[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/bread_bin.jpg” caption=”Stephanie Murray, MSU vice-president education, right, hands a container of donated canned goods to Ashlee Smith, shift supervisor of Compass. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay”]July is “Caring Hands and Cans” month at McMaster. This month, the McMaster Students Union is asking people to reach into their pockets or donate canned goods to the newest service offered by the MSU – the MAC Bread Bin.

“We have called on students, McMaster faculty and staff as well as local businesses in the community to embrace students facing financial difficulties by donating canned food, or other non perishables, or monetary donations,” says Stephanie Murray, MSU vice-president education, who adds local restaurants also have the option of giving gift certificates.

The MSU will hire a coordinator over the summer months and expect to have the MAC Bread Bin fully operational for students on the first day of classes in September. They will use Welcome Week as an opportunity to promote the MAC Bread Bin, and also to make the McMaster community aware of the difficulties and sacrifices some students face in order to continue making their education a priority.

Donations can be dropped off at Compass Information Centre located in the MUSC atrium. Monetary donations can be dropped off at the MSU main office- Rm. 201 in the MUSC attention: Stephanie Murray.

“The donations collected during the month of July will fill our cupboards for the first months in the fall,” Murray says. “These donations will find their way directly to students who are having difficulty and need nutritious food. We are hoping that, through initial donations received, we can send the message of a compassionate and supportive community to students who are in need.”