The University of Mary Washington will launch its 10th annual STOP Hunger Food drive to alleviate hunger in the local community on Friday, Nov. 6, with a curbside collection from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in front of Seacobeck Hall.
Donations will be taken through Saturday, November 14. Collection bins will be available on UMW’s Fredericksburg campus in dining facilities and the UMW Bookstore. UMW Athletics will collect donations outside of the Giant food store, 1245 Jefferson Davis Highway, from Monday, Nov. 9 through Friday, Nov. 13.
UMW Dining Services, Sodexo, has sponsored the STOP Hunger Food drive every November since 2005. As part of Sodexo’s Better Tomorrow commitments, the Stop Hunger program mobilizes Sodexo’s employees, consumers, clients and suppliers to join forces to end hunger. UMW Athletics has been a partner sponsor since 2008 and also participates in a conference-wide food collection competition to see which university’s student-athletes can collect the most pounds of food in a one-week time period.
“Last year, we collected nearly 5,000 pounds of food with Athletics,” said Roy Platt, general manager of UMW Dining Services. “This year, we’d like to donate 25,000 pounds of food, but it’s going to take a team effort to make it happen.”
A number of area businesses and organizations will participate in this year’s STOP Hunger event, including the Rappahannock Area YMCA, Fredericksburg Baptist Church, LifePoint Church, Walker Grant Middle School and Hugh Mercer Elementary School.
All donations benefit local nonprofit organizations dedicated to fighting hunger in the community. In previous years, donations have been given to the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank, which distributes food to more than 70 partner agencies in the region.
For additional information about the food drive, contact Heather Hosey at 540-654-5982 or email dining@umw.edu.
