NEWS RELEASE

News Bureau • Schofield Hall 201 • Eau Claire, WI 54702
phone: (715) 836-4741
fax: (715) 836-2900

UW-Eau Claire Students Organize
To Help Local Food Pantry 

MAILED: Nov. 15, 2002

         EAU CLAIRE — In the spirit of giving, two University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire students have organized a campus food drive for the Eau Claire community. The drive began Nov. 11 and will continue through Friday, Nov. 22.
         Seniors Sarah Buss, Eland, and Sandy Yassin, De Pere, both geography majors, organized the event after hearing news about food shortages in Wisconsin food pantries, Yassin said. They decided to have it around Thanksgiving because this is a time to appreciate all of the things that people normally take for granted, Buss said.
         “We may think that we’re ‘poor college students,’ and we very well may be, but in actuality, we are far better off than some members of the community,” Yassin said. “This is a chance to make a difference where and when it truly counts.”
         The students will be collecting non-perishable food items and donating them to the St. Francis Food Pantry, 1221 Truax Blvd., in time for Thanksgiving Day. They chose St. Francis because it has a great history of helping people in need, Buss said.
         Collection boxes are located in the entranceways of Davies Center, Phillips Science Hall, Hibbard Hall, Schneider Hall and the Haas Fine Arts Center. Some items the food pantry suggested are most in need at this time of year are pumpkin pie mix, evaporated milk, box potatoes, cranberries, stuffing, juice, small cans of coffee, pickles, salad dressing and soup. But any non-perishable food item is greatly appreciated, Yassin said.
         “If everybody on campus donates just one item, think of the impact we will have on our community,” Buss said.
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  News Bureau
Judy Berthiaume
UW-Eau Claire News Bureau
Schofield 201
(715) 836-4741
newsbur@uwec.edu

Updated: November 15, 2002