In December 2023, WashU Dining, in collaboration with our students, embraced the spirit of giving with enthusiasm! Continuing an annual tradition, WashU Dining presented three impactful ways to contribute to both our campus and the St. Louis community. This post is a brief overview of these heartfelt initiatives.
Transferring Meal Points to the Food Security Fund
Started in 2020, the Food Security Fund continues to be available to support WashU undergraduate students facing financial hardship, thanks to the commitment of Dining Services and the invaluable contributions of our students. Students can also transfer funds to the Food Security Fund at the end of the Spring semester.
This Fall, over 25,000 meal points were distributed to WashU students through the Food Security Fund.
Purchasing a Meal Package through Operation Food Search
Operation Food Search is a local, hunger relief non-profit located in Overland, MO- less than 10 miles away from WashU dedicated to providing meals for individuals. Students purchased meal packages at Paws & Go in the Bears Den or Millbrook Market in the Village. Meal packages were picked up by Operation Food Search and distributed to the St. Louis community!
In total 2,496 pounds of non-perishable food were donated to Operation Food Search through our Give Back Campaign. That amount of food is the equivalent of feeding 624 people for one day.
Read about the meal packages below.
Caption: Pictures of WashU Dining staff preparing donated goods for delivery to Operation Food Search.
Participate in Gift-A-Meal at Café Bergson
Gift-A-Meal is a local start-up created by WashU Alumni Andrew Glantz, BSBA ’17. To participate, students could take a photograph of any meal or beverage at Café Bergson and submit through the free Gift-A-Meal app. For every photograph submitted, one meal is donated to a local food bank. Students can continue to participate in Gift-A-Meal all year long at Café Bergson!
Over 160 meals have been donated through Gift-A-Meal since November 2023!
Caption: Gift-A-Meal student photo submissions