There are 110,000 people at risk for hunger in southern Wisconsin alone — and the University of Wisconsin is looking to help.
Visitor & Information Programs, a division of UW, is collaborating with Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin for a food drive to be held today in the Red Gym and the UW Welcome Center.
“It was an impromptu decision,” said VIP marketing specialist Nick Gonzales, a UW senior. “The VIP decided to join forces with Second Harvest in donating to the community during the holiday season.”
The VIP, which consists of 75 students and six staff members, has set an internal goal of collecting 300 pounds of food and a campus goal of collecting 800 pounds worth of non-perishable food items for donation.
Even though most of the items are expected to be food items, the organization is welcoming all types of items, ranging from soap to toys.
“We will take anything that will help the people who need it,” Gonzales said. “We are not just limited to food items.”
According to Gonzales, 56 percent of the households in Wisconsin are below the federal poverty line.
About 10,000 of those individuals live in Dane County.
“We have already reached about 400 to 450 pounds, so that’s half our goal,” Gonzales said. “The UW Marching Band contributed a lot too. They donated about 350 pounds on their own during the kickoff event.”
Gonzales added students are more or less taking the lead in conducting the food drive.
“They wanted to head it and give back to the state of Wisconsin through the campus community,” Gonzales said. “I really want to emphasize that it is student-run.”
VIP correspondent and UW senior Emily Pilger said if the event goes well, the organization will expand it in future years.
“If this is a success, we are hopeful to make it something to do throughout the year, not just during the holiday season,” Pilger said.
Pilger added VIP is also looking forward to collaborating with student organizations on campus in upcoming years, depending on the outcome of this year’s drive.
Organizers will be available to collect items today between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the Red Gym located at 716 Langdon St., and at the Welcome Center located at 21 N. Park St. Bucky Badger will be at the Red Gym location, and organizers will give out complimentary hot chocolate.
