CWU Recreation to PUSH for continued eradication of hunger, poverty

CWU is the only higher education institution in Washington participating in an integrated PUSH‑-an acronym for Presidents United to Solve Hunger.

In conjunction with CWU’s PUSH efforts, University Recreation will set up a food collection box at the university’s Recreation Center counter, for non-Recreation members, on Thursday, November 29, from 6:30 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. All donation of canned or non-perishable food items are welcome.

In addition, during those same hours, Recreation Center members will be able to place their donations into a collection wheelbarrow inside the facility.

Eligible non-members, who want to try the facility may gain free, one-time, single entry with the donation of a minimum of three canned or non-perishable food items.

“The PUSH Fitness Food Drive is an important event for the CWU Recreation Center during the holiday season,” said Claire Cox, University Recreation marketing and health programming coordinator. “We see it as a way to encourage students, staff, and faculty to give back while also having fun exercising.”

In addition, all CWU students are eligible to donate a portion or the entire balance available on their fall quarter meal cards to help feed students in need. And any interested individual or group may contribute to the cause through the CWU Presidents United to Solve Hunger website. That site also offers a location for students to request food assistance.

“This event gives our students an opportunity to give back not only monetarily with their student meal cards or non-perishable food items, but to get to also spread awareness about the fact that we have food-insecure students right here our campus,” Cox explained.

Earlier this year, Temple University and the Wisconsin HOPE Lab released a first-of-its-kind report on college student food insecurity and homelessness. Study data showed that 36 percent of U.S. college students do not have enough to eat—with 6 percent of university students going at least one full day without eating within the past month. In addition, more than one in three college students indicated that did not have a secure place to live.

In 2015, CWU President James L. Gaudino signed the Presidents’ Commitment to Food and Nutrition Security, committing Central to the core value of hunger elimination. It is based on the established premise that hungry and homeless students have a harder time in their studies.

CWU’s commitment extends to responding to students in emergency situations through providing vital resources such students need to succeed.

CWU is part of a worldwide consortium of 104 universities in 29 counties which have joined forces to end hunger and poverty, locally and globally.

Media contact: Robert Lowery, Department of Public Affairs, 509-963-1487, Robert.Lowery@cwu.edu