A can-do can drive

IU students can help break a Guinness World Record by simply cleaning out their cupboards. The Indiana Memorial Union and Sodexho food and facilities services are urging students to donate their canned goods today and Wednesday to beat the world record for "most canned food collected in a 24-hour period by a noncharitable organization." The event is part of the national Cans Across America campaign. \n"Sodexho is committed to fighting hunger in the communities we serve," said Steve Richards, operations director for IMU Dining Services, which is run by Sodexho Campus Services. "What we are doing now is trying to break a world record and at the same time help the Bloomington community." \nMore than 400 college campuses served by Sodexho will work together to attempt to break the current record of 156,889.34 pounds, Richards said. At 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dean of Students Richard McKaig and Assistant Dean of Students Steve Veldkamp will weigh the cans in the Market at the Union. That number will be added to the weight of food collected from the other colleges and universities around the country. After being weighed and recorded, the cans collected at IU will be donated to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank.\n"Right now I know that Bloomington food banks are desperately low, so any canned food drive is good for the community, especially as we're approaching the winter season," Veldkamp said.\nDrop-off points are located at seven different spots on campus, including the Cyber Café of the Herman B Wells Library, the Education Building's snack center and outside all IMU dining locations. \n"Students can bring their own cans from home or they can purchase them at the cash register of the various locations," Richards said. "The cans are under a dollar and each one that's bought helps the community and contributes to breaking this record." \nAnd students are excited to donate to the cause.\n"I definitely believe a dollar is a good amount to pay to give back to the community in Bloomington," said fifth-year MBA student John-Francis Kraemer.\nThe Hoosier Hills Food Bank will distribute the cans to 86 organizations that serve six local counties. \n"We have always had a lot of support from the campus for our food drives," said Hoosier Hills Executive Director Julio Alonso. "We know that the need for food has increased, and we think people are conscious of this need and think there will be a great response from the students at IU"