Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 12, 1991 TAG: 9102120264
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOE TENNIS SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Our Daily Bread director Lynda Semones said the organization was grateful. "I think it's wonderful for the public to know that a university is concerned with needy people."
Our Daily Bread, at First Presbyterian Church on Fourth Street in Pulaski, feeds 100 people five days a week, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Semones said the food from Radford could increase her kitchen's yield by 50 servings daily.
The food comes from what's left in buffet pans after student meals. "It's good food," says Jim Unnever, faculty adviser to the Progressive Student Alliance.
Sending that food to a hungry mouth beats grinding it up and throwing it in a landfill, said Pete Vahle, who helped coordinate "The Hunger Project."
Vahle, philanthropy and community service chairman for Radford's Alpha Chi Rho fraternity, urged his fraternity brothers to volunteer to deliver the food one day a week. "My commitment has come from the idea: Think globally, but act locally," Vahle said.
Allison Harl, another coordinator, said the plan might be the ideal opportunity to close the gap between students and the community. "I feel it's human responsibility to look out for people not as fortunate."
The Project coordinators - Harl, Vahle and Linda Gates - have compiled a list of delivery volunteers. Most are fraternity or sorority members.
Once the plan rolls into motion, PSA members said the food will be delivered four days a week.
"We're going to do this right, so it can have a long-term effect," Gates said.
Radford's plan was delayed several weeks after winning approval because of problems locating containers that would meet health regulations.
Last month Radva Corp., a Radford manufacturer of protective packaging, donated coolers to the PSA. "We were encouraged by the actions of the students," said Radva vice president Ed Naff.
Unnever considers the project "at the cutting edge of institutionalizing compassion. The plan has become part of the university, part of the system," he said.
Other colleges should adopt similar projects, Unnever said. "Tech, Roanoke and Hollins can all do something."
A social issues group at Tech wants to to do its part. Students Against Poverty plans to start sending leftover cafeteria food to a soup kitchen in Pearisburg by the end of this month, said Chistiana Small, president of the group.
by CNB