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February 08, 2005
Student group aims to raise $10,000 for tsunami relief
Already with $1,600, Hamline Students for Tsunami Relief, a new student group, are confident that they will reach their goal of $10,000, group member Mike Pesko said.
The $1,600 came from donations at J-Term bowling, change buckets around campus, classroom solicitations, donations by Hamline Midway businesses and collections from a multifaith service.
To garner the remainder of the $10,000, Pesko said the group will ask HUSC for a $1,000 challenge grant, a method in which HUSC matches the fundraising efforts of chartered and unchartered organizations, up to $1,000.
In coordination with Food Services Director Sharon Tracy, the group has also worked out a deal that allows students on meal plans to donate up to three of their meals and up to $15 from their declining balance toward the fund.
For every meal donated, Aramark would donate $2.40, the food price per meal per person, Tracy said. If they combine the two plans, Aramark could donate up to $22.20 per participating student.
Donated meals would be counted for Friday, Feb. 11. To help balance the cost, Sorin will not be open for supper that evening, Pesko said.
Full-time workers have been informed of the closing and some are happy for the day off, although some are angry they are losing those hours, Tracy said. Dining services will try and reschedule those lost hours, she said.
The Klas Cafe and the HUB will still be open for their regular hours, Tracy said. In addition, Residential Life will be offering free pizza in the halls, Pesko said.
Pesko declined to set a monetary goal for the meal plan donation. He also added that the plan would be plugged by RA and CA residential life staff during their mandatory floor meetings, which took place last week.
Most recently, Pesko and his committee are planning a benefit dinner, during which they hope to raise
$5,000.
The dinner, which is a suggested minimum $25 donation per person, would feed 200 people, Pesko said.
Originally, the dinner had operating costs of $9 per person, totaling $1,800. However, CLA Dean Garvin Davenport agreed to cover the initial expense, Pesko said.
“Garvin was very generous in the amount of money he gave us,” Pesko said.
Sophomore Heather Rich, who heads the programming sub-committee of the group, said there will also be a fundraising raffle. Attendees would be receive one ticket on entry, and additional tickets could be purchased for $1.
The dinner will be held on Friday, April 8, at 7 p.m.
Posted by msveum at February 8, 2005 04:05 PM