Students’ unused meal plan dollars assist Hamilton Food Share

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/MealCard09.jpg” caption=”The McMaster chapter of Meal Exchange kicks-off its annual Skip a Meal campaign this week. Photo by Matt Terry.”]Students have the opportunity to skip a meal this week to help others for whom missing meals may not be a choice but a necessity.

The McMaster chapter of Meal Exchange, a national youth-driven charity that empowers youth to create social change in their communities, kicks-off its annual Skip a Meal campaign this week.

During the campaign students are encouraged to make a donation from their meal plan accounts to help people in the Hamilton community struggling to afford food. This year's donations will go directly to Hamilton Food Share.

“The recession has hit everybody hard, though some of those the hardest hit are community social programs and the people who use them,” said Patrick Byrne, Meal Exchange co-ordinator, MAC Bread Bin. “Skip a Meal aims to help those people and programs by having students donate some of their unused meal plan money to the local Food Share. The aim is have students' effect positive social change in the Hamilton community.”

Students may donate money from either their Freedom or Basic accounts. Depending on the account type up to 100 per cent of the donation is given Hamilton Food Share.

The Skip a Meal campaign runs from Monday, March 23 to Friday, March 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Commons Building (a booth is located near the exit to the cafeteria).

The program is organized by MAC Bread Bin, an MSU organization that runs initiatives throughout the year to ensure McMaster's graduate and undergraduate student have enough food.

Students without extra meal plan dollars who wish to get involved can contact the MAC Bread Bin for more information on food drives or to volunteer.