In observance of President Barack Obama’s national day of service and remembrance, Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group volunteers hosted an event to raise money and awareness for their Hunger Homelessness campaign Friday.
In collaboration with the Red and White Hunger Fight — a University of Wisconsin fundraising initiative — WISPIRG volunteers put in over 70 hours of service Friday for the event, raising nearly $400 in donations and securing at least 40 new interest cards from people wanting to become more involved.
Every dollar raised equated to helping seven families receive a thanksgiving meal who would otherwise go without, according to Robbie John, fundraising coordinator for WISPIRG’s hunger and homelessness campaign.
There have been 3,500 requests for thanksgiving dinners to the Food and Gardens Division of Community Action Coalition, according to Mariana Berbert, coordinator for WISPIRG’s Hunger Homelessness campaign.
She added there is a 500 family gap that still needs to be filled, a main objective of WISPIRG’s campaign.
Stationed at East Campus Mall, volunteers recruited passing students to donate one dollar to take a toss at Bag-O, shooting for a coupon for free cheesy bread from Domino’s Pizza.
The response from students was very encouraging according to both John and Berbert, who recognized students sometimes have trouble feeding themselves.
“We really saw how supportive the student body is with regard to this cause and it really seems like they know how important they can be in combating hunger and poverty in their community,” John said.
Berbert said it is important for students to realize they are part of a community and while they may sometimes be struggling to feed themselves, they are still getting a good education and have a very bright future.
Berbert also said she wants students to realize they are part of a greater community, one to which everyone has an obligation, and in order for it to be healthy, you need make sure everyone at least has a roof over their heads and meals on the table.
She added when many people hear of hunger and homelessness issues in Madison, they think of the panhandlers on State Street.
While they are certainly representative of the greater problem, Berbert said, the majority of homeless people are women and children who are not necessarily sleeping on the street.
The anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks provided a unique opportunity to capitalize on people’s feelings of patriotism and service to their country.
“Since that day, I think people have really grown in the sense that this is my nation, these are my people and I think that on a day like this it’s important to remember that your nation and your people also include people that need help feeding themselves,” Berbert said.
Last semester, WISPIRG’s hunger and homelessness campaign raised $6,000 in two months, a figure they hope to surpass this year, according to Berbert, who said their goal is to provide 900 thanksgiving meals to families in need.
