Employees and students can contribute $5 via Blazer Bucks, Dining Dollars, cash or credit card, or students may donate a meal from their meal plan to provide for a fellow Blazer from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20.The University of Alabama at Birmingham is partnering with the Donor to Diner One Meal Initiative to take the bite out of student food insecurity on campus. Employees and students can contribute $5 via Blazer Bucks, Dining Dollars, cash or credit card, or students may donate a meal from their meal plan to provide for a fellow Blazer from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, at the Commons on the Green. Donations from the public are also welcome.
Food insecurity is defined as inconsistent access to food due to a limitation in resources.
“Food insecurity is a serious issue facing our nation, particularly college students,” said Rich Yokeley, UAB Campus Dining resident district manager. “Campus Dining is deeply invested in stop-hunger programs, and we are happy to continue our support of the student-developed Donor to Diner One Meal Initiative here on campus.”
D2D was established in 2015 as a joint venture by UAB administration, Campus Dining and UAB Student Outreach. Through D2D, donations are converted into meal vouchers that UAB case managers distribute to students with need. This past academic year, more than 900 meal vouchers were collected and distributed at UAB through the D2D initiative. The success of the program is prompting students at other universities to adopt D2D chapters at their schools. UAB’s chapter also has partnered with various UAB departments to help reduce food insecurity within campus while promoting awareness of this issue.
“After learning about collegiate food insecurity and hearing that UAB students were being affected by this issue, I knew I had to get involved and become an advocate,” said Tanner Earley, president of D2D. “The purpose of the One Meal Initiative, as well as Donor to Diner, is to provide an organized way for students to help each other. We are grateful for the support of UAB administration and Campus Dining, who have helped us make this a reality.”