A food donation competition between Kennesaw State and Monmouth University was hosted by KSU’s Campus Awareness, Resource and Empowerment Services for their annual “Hoot Out Hunger” event Friday, Nov. 1, and Saturday, Nov. 2.
While Hoot Out Hunger this year was a competition to see which school could donate the most to their school food pantry, it will benefit both KSU and Monmouth, KSU CARE Services Director Marcy Stidum said. Monmouth University’s food pantry is relatively new to their campus.
“Both pantries are run primarily through donations, so this is an amazing way to support the pantries’ efforts to increase the amount of food in inventory, therefore increasing their ability to serve students,” Stidum said. “Additionally, the Monmouth pantry has been open for a little over a year, so CARE Services has been able to provide some guidance and mentoring to the other pantry in order to assist them in their work.”
This year was the first time that Hoot Out Hunger acted as a competition between schools, according to Stidum. Food items were donated on campus, at OwlTown and outside the gates of Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
“[This year’s] Hoot Out Hunger allows both KSU and Monmouth students to directly give back to their communities by donating non-perishable food items to their school’s food pantry,” Stidum said.
CARE started the competition a day before KSU and Monmouth’s football teams competed against each other. Up until the game began, both universities competed to see who could collect the most food donations. The results will be released Friday, Stidum said.
According to Stidum, Hoot Out Hunger benefits students who suffer from food insecurity by giving them access to food items that are donated via the CARE Services food pantry.
Hoot Out Hunger kicks off Homelessness Awareness Week, the main purpose of which is to raise awareness regarding homelessness in both communities and campuses, Stidum said.
Other events will take place during HAW, including Commons and Stingers swipe donations, a candlelight vigil honoring homeless people who have died in Cobb County in 2019 and a sleep-out challenge for students that raises awareness about what it is like to be homeless.
“Each year, participants are surprised to discover how homelessness impacts those around them, especially the number of college students that are affected,” Stidum said. “Some events are donation drives or fundraisers, while other events are informational sessions targeted at awareness and stigma reduction.”
Hoot Out Hunger and HAW’s main goals are to raise awareness about homelessness. This year’s involvement of Monmouth University works to expand KSU Care Services’ reach to involve more college students in the prevention of hunger insecurity.
“Many people don’t realize how many students are struggling to have their basic needs met while attending college. Gone are the days when financial aid covered everything a student needs in order to be successful,” Stidum said. “CARE Services seeks to eliminate the barriers that many students face in regards to food and shelter so that they are able to focus on academics and be successful in their attempts to pursue a college degree.”
Founded in 2014, KSU CARE Services has become well established on campus, working with over 130 students in the past year, Stidum said.
According to KSU CARE Services’ website, they work to supply KSU students in need with items like personal care products, access to KSU’s on-campus food pantry, temporary and permanent housing arrangements and case management.
CARE Services also functions as a University System of Georgia Designated Single Point of Contact, according to its website. This means that students who are homeless or in foster care can go to CARE Services to receive necessary information and have their questions answered.
KSU CARE Services’ website explains that CARE Services collaborates with many different departments within KSU such as admissions, the office of financial aid and campus housing to help students succeed.
