Three hundred twenty-three students gave up their three Valentine meals. Dining Services will donate the cost of these meals to the project. "If Val gives at least $3 per person, then we have close to $1,000 already," said Cristina Morales '06, one of the organizers of "Give up Your Meals" day.
The proceeds from today will supplement funds that will be collected on Hunger Cleanup, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 3. On that day, students at the College, along with students from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Smith College, will be called upon to donate money and volunteer for community service.
According to Morales, MassPIRG hopes the funds will benefit a diverse array of groups and organizations.
"The money from Hunger Cleanup gets divided up like this," Morales said. "Fifteen percent goes to International Projects through the International Development Exchange, which sponsors grass roots community-based projects [around the world]. Thirty-five percent of the money raised will be allotted to national programs maintained by NSCAHH. The remaining fifty percent will go towards establishing a soup kitchen in the local Amherst area."
Morales indicated that the soup kitchen will most likely be in Northampton, although the organizations have yet to establish an exact location.
"Our end goal is to have the soup kitchen provide meals every day but we may have to work up to that," said Morales. "In the beginning we hope to provide hot meals on days when there are few other places for people to go [for meals]."
MassPIRG members hope to establish the soup kitchen soon. "If we raise enough money this semester, we hope to get it started in the fall," said Morales.
As part of "Give Up Your Meals" day, MassPIRG is sponsoring the Voices of the Homeless panel tonight at 8:00 p.m. in Converse's Cole Assembly Room.
According to Zeke Phillips '05, a member of MassPIRG, the panel will feature two women who are living in shelters now. Both women are from Arise for Social Justice.
Arise is an organization based in Springfield, Mass. which aims to increase political power in the hands of oppressed individuals.
Students involved in today's initiative hope the events will make the student body more aware of homelessness and hunger issues.
"I think it is a really great idea so that students can get involved, raise awareness and, of course, provide hot meals," said Phillips. "It would provide a really great service."