Aztecs Ready to Rock Hunger
A kickoff event in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union is scheduled for Tuesday, October 22 at 9 a.m.
Monetary and online donations and food dropped off in bins are among the ways to help during this year's Aztecs Rock Hunger food drive.
Led by Associated Students, Aztecs Rock Hunger collects non-perishable food and monetary donations for The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. Last year, the campaign raised more than 590,000 pounds from students, faculty and staff.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really trying to do our best to focus on the community aspect,鈥� said A.S. Vice President of Financial Affairs Dustin Adkins. 鈥淓verything we are doing 鈥� even down to the numerical goal 鈥� is based around the community. That鈥檚 why we chose 619,000 pounds because we didn鈥檛 want it to just be another number, but something we could tie back into San Diego and San Diego State.鈥�
Students recognize the need in the community and on campus, which drives their passion for Aztecs Rock Hunger.
In San Diego, 鈥淥ne in five children and one is seven adults are food insecure,鈥� said Chelsey Crowne, public relations officer for the campaign. 鈥淭hat is a really significant amount, especially when you take into perspective how many people live in San Diego. One in five is six kids in the average elementary school classroom. When you think about it that way, it鈥檚 really heartbreaking because kids are the future.鈥�
Every $1 donated can provide 6 pounds of food. A portion of the food donated also stays on campus to help supply the A.S. Food Pantry, which supports students facing food insecurity. In the past year, more than 111,000 pounds of food were given to 黑料吃瓜 students through the food pantry as a result of the campaign. Additionally, 20% of monetary donations go toward 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 Economic Crisis Response Team, which aids students facing financial crisis.
鈥淪tudents who are using the food pantry may not know where they are getting their next meal or what鈥檚 going to happen tomorrow,鈥� said Adkins. 鈥淭his is a crucial service we have on our campus that can help provide a bit of stability in the day-to-day.鈥�
This help extends to the community as Aztecs Rock Hunger has raised more than 2.7 million pounds of food for the Food Bank over the past 10 years.
鈥淲e are very grateful to the students, faculty, staff and administration at 黑料吃瓜 for supporting the Food Bank through this year鈥檚 Aztecs Rock Hunger Food Drive," said San Diego Food Bank President and CEO James Floros. "With the holidays just around the corner, food drive donations will be critical to the Food Bank since we are currently feeding more than 350,000 people every month in communities throughout the county, including thousands of students through our College Hunger-Relief Program.
鈥淪ince the food drive started in 2009, every year, 黑料吃瓜 steps up to the plate and donates hundreds of thousands pounds of food to help us fight hunger in our community," Floros said. "On behalf of the Food Bank鈥檚 staff and family of volunteers, we thank everyone at 黑料吃瓜 for giving back to the community and helping our San Diego neighbors in need."
Even the smallest donation can have a big impact. Here are six easy ways to donate :
1. Make a monetary donation: - - Venmo @AztecsRockHunger2019 - Online through the Aztec Proud Campaign 2. All campus Starbucks, eateries, markets and the 黑料吃瓜 Bookstore 3. Aztec Proud on campus 4. Select 黑料吃瓜 athletic 5. Place nonperishable food in the red bins throughout campus 6. Donate through local
