Sul Ross State University has been selected as a recipient of the Feed the Funnel grant as part of the 9/11 National Day of Service, according to a Tuesday press release.
Feed the Funnel is a meal packaging service project in affiliation with 911day.org, the Pack Shack, and AmeriCorps in recognition of September 11, a National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Sul Ross State received AmeriCorp’s Generous Grant, which covers 40 percent of the costs of the event, the release details. The Office of Civic Engagement and Student Assistance (CESA) is now fundraising for the remaining $12,000 to package their goal of 50,000 shelf stable meals, all of which will stay in the Big Bend and Permian Basin regions.
Each meal costs approximately 40 cents. SRSU will collaborate with West Texas Food Bank to distribute meals to affiliated pantry partners in the region.
“We are very excited to bring this program to campus,” said Katy Williams, the director of CESA, in the release. “We hope to use this event as a way to bolster student engagement and interest in volunteering while also increasing awareness about local food insecurity.”
According to Williams, Brewster County and the surrounding counties experience higher rates of food insecurity than state averages, and in some cases, the national average.
“We all know someone who is impacted by limitations to food. This event will help engage our campus in a cause that is critical to our community while increasing awareness of the needs and opportunities to continue to give back,” she said. “Every small donation counts. Just $10 covers the costs of 25 meals and they all go back into our local and regional communities.”
The fundraising deadline is July 31. SRSU will host the Feed the Funnel event on Sept. 5. To support or sponsor the event visit tinyurl.com/war3f6e8 or checks can be written and mailed to SRSU Lobo Pantry, P.O. Box C-103, Alpine, TX 79832.
For more information, contact Katy Williams at 432-837-8596 or email [email protected].
