USC Swipes for the Homeless Prepares for Food Donation
Video by Tallie Johnson
USC Swipes for the Homeless, a campus initiative to combat hunger, is preparing for a large donation of food to the Los Angeles Mission.
Students with Dining Dollars can opt to donate their dining credits to the student-led group at on-campus dining locations on Friday. Working with USC Hospitality, Swipes for the Homeless estimates more than 2,300 pounds of food will go to the Mission.
The organization exceeded its goal by collecting $21,000 in student donations at the end of last semester.
"I personally don't like giving to the homeless," said USC student Luis Chavez.
Chavez said he does like that Dining Dollars can be immediately converted to food for people who truly need it.
USC Hospitality helps to facilitate the transportation of the food, but says the event is about students themselves alleviating hunger and raising awareness about hunger and homelessness in Los Angeles.
"The organization is 100-percent student run, working to collect students un-used dining dollars to purchase food for the homeless," said Erika Chesley, media contact for USC Hospitality.
Representatives from the Los Angeles Mission will pick up the food atfromthe Campus Center beginning at 10 A.M. and will transport it back to the mission.
"The fact that you are donating dining dollars and you can personally see how much food that our school can raise, really puts things into perspective," said Chavez.
The USC iniative is part of a larger county-wide effort to fight hunger.
City Councilman Tom LaBonge declared Wednesday the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Alleviate Hunger Day, in honor of the 40th anniversary of the food bank.
The L.A. Regional Food Bank serves one million individuals throughout Los Angeles County per year, including 400,000 children. Food is distributed to food pantries, soup kitchens, senior and youth centers, community-based organizations, churches and Food Bank programs.
The Food Bank has distributed one billion pounds of food since 1973.
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