‘Can’paigning for a worthy cause

Dean of Students Dick McKaig hopes students bring more than just textbooks to class Wednesday.\nStarting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, the Indiana Memorial Union and Sodexho, a food and facilities service, will collect canned goods for 24 hours to help attempt to break a Guinness World Record.\n“Sodexho has always been assisting with feeding the hungry, and there are always events across the country helping with this effort,” said Steve Mangan, general manager of IMU Dining Services. “We make food our business and we’re always surrounded by it. We take it for granted every day, and we owe it to the community to give back.”\nThis is the second year the IMU will participate in the Cans Across America campaign – a nation-wide initiative among Sodexho campuses to combat hunger – ­and attempt to break the current record for the largest food drive by a non-charitable organization in a 24-hour period. \nLast year IU-Bloomington collected 2,537 cans, exceeding the campus goal by 37 cans. IU’s contribution was then added to all of Sodexho’s campuses to come up with a total figure, which fell just short of the world record, said Bari Kuhlman, special events coordinator for the IMU. This year, IU’s goal has doubled to 5,000 cans. \nThe Regina and District Food Bank in Saskatchewan, Canada currently holds the world record with 221,028 pounds of food collected in 24 hours. \n“Efforts to address hunger are important,” McKaig said. “This has a special meaning because it is going on at every college. Last year it generated a lot of food and had a very positive effect on the faculty, staff and students.” \nDrop-off stations will be located at all IMU eateries, the Cyber Cafe in the Herman B Wells library and the food kiosk at the education building. Students can also purchase cans to donate. IMU dining locations will be selling two cans for $1. \n“All of the cans go to a local food bank, so the beneficiaries are in our community,” McKaig said. \nAt the end of 24 hours, McKaig will help weigh the cans. Later, the cans will be delivered to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank and distributed to more than 85 organizations in six counties, said Julio Alonso, Hoosier Hills executive director.\n“We try to engage the campus community as much as possible,” Alonso said. “We have a lot of student and faculty volunteers. The can drive gives students a way to be involved without too much effort.” \nAfter a successful first year, Mangan is looking forward to helping the community and making a second attempt at the world record. \n“We’re just trying to have fun and mobilize the campus for a good cause,” Mangan said.