Pizza Mania benefits non-profit

Through live entertainment, games and a Bloomington pizza competition, Pizza Mania hopes to bring the “taste of IU” to campus.

Pizza Mania will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday in Dunn Meadow and will benefit Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, a local food pantry.

The event began two years ago with a small group of students looking for a way to benefit the community. Students and other Bloomington residents can now pay $7 to try pizza and breadsticks from 11 different pizzerias.

The event will also feature entertainment, including performances by DJ Wildchild, a comedian and several Bloomington bands.

Ticket sales are the main fundraisers for the event, but by selling T-shirts and Pepsi products, organizers want to raise even more money. Pizza Mania also welcomes donations, said senior Marc Uible, a business student and one of the original members of the founding group.

“We just want it to be a fun event for people to enjoy pizza and IU,” Uible said. “We wanted to do something for the community that was fun and helped. Fairly basic goal, but that’s what we were shooting for.”

This year’s profits will go toward Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard.

Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard is one of many food pantries that need assistance as the United States takes an economic downturn and more families are forced to seek help, Uible said.

“We found our home organization this year,” Uible said, “mainly because it’s so pertinent this year.”

Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard will use the money to stock its food pantry, said Brooke Gentile, executive director of Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard. The food pantry serves about 1,800 people each week.

Gentile said while the organization usually receives money through grants, private contributions and special events, she greatly appreciates the community’s support.

“We are very honored to be the benefiting agency,” Gentile said. “It’s a great way to give back to the community, especially in times like this.”