MU Crushes Food Drive Competition
Alex Baker
U Can Crush Hunger is a friendly competition between local schools that compete to feed those in need in the northeast Indiana region. Acceptable items to be donated are nonperishables canned goods such as tuna, vegetables, meat and fruit, as well as peanut butter. The event took place in the Academic Center, Chinworth Center, and the Jo Young Switzer Center. The U Can Crush Hunger event occurred from Oct. 21 to Nov. 5.
This year Manchester faced strong competition from the University of Saint Francis, Indiana Tech, Huntington University, Ivy Tech, and PFW (Purdue Fort Wayne). Manchester University participated in the competition in 2018 for the first time and ended up in second place. That year Saint Francis was victorious by a landslide. Roughly about 40,000 meals were collected.
Isaac Miller, a junior, is the College of Business Club community outreach committee director and he is anticipating a great year from his fellow Spartans. “They could bring food anytime to one of the U Can Crush Hunger barrels placed around campus or by bringing canned goods to events like costume bingo, Manchester Madness, and other events on campus,” Miller said. Other events range from volleyball home games to FYE (First Year Experience) class meetings. Any student was able to get involved by simply donating.
Not only could students get involved, but members of the Manchester community participated as well. During “Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods” Spartans knocked on people’s doors asking for donations. “Each house got a flier first, so they knew we were coming,” Miller said. “Some prepared a bag of goods or had a few cans ready, but some were still surprised when we knock.” Locals had the alternative option to donate money if they wanted to do that instead of giving food. One dollar equaled four pounds of food. Despite that option, mainly all the donations came from students, faculty and staff of Manchester. Alumni also contributed to the cause.
The College of Business Club has held their own food drive as well this year. But this year, it felt like the right time establish a larger partnership. “It seemed like a natural fit to partner with U Can Crush Hunger through the Center for Service Opportunities and Ali Goetcheus to combine our efforts,” Miller said. “We run a smaller competition among some very competitive College of Business Club staff, faculty and students inside of a larger competition against other schools.” This club has done this now for five years, so they were hoping to increase Manchester’s chances of winning this friendly event.
Within the club, teams were formed by students who represent a business professor. At times the faculty are even more motivated than the students. Many of the professors are willing to go the extra mile as they want the bragging rights over their colleagues.
With the participation of the College of Business Club, Miller believes that more canned foods will be gathered. “Each of the past two years, the College of Business Club has been part of a media event at the Food Pantry in Fort Wayne,” Miller said. “They have been on TV promoting the U Can Crush Hunger event.”
The competition ended Nov. 5, but stay on the lookout for an email from Ali Goetcheus, which will indicate how much food was collected and what place MU finished.