WHILE UNI STUDENTS complain about the long lines for pizza, countless other people throughout East Central Illinois don’t have anything to eat, let alone pizza. The Eastern Illinois Foodbank is trying to change that.

Through Tuesday, the Uni community can participate in the Food For Families food drive. Collection boxes have been placed at all three entrances to Uni.

For those who want to do more, senior Rachel Hurley and junior Rachel Hyman will lead volunteers on a trick-or-treating expedition early Halloween night for cans that will be donated to the foodbank. (To learn more about that, see our story here.)

According to Student Council president Micah Berman, although Friday was originally the last day of collection, a lack of donations forced him to postpone collection until Wednesday.

Berman admitted that last year’s showing was "pitiful," so Student Council tried to increase publicity by putting the boxes outside as a reminder to students and parents. Berman also sent two schoolwide e-mails promoting the food drive on behalf of Student Council.

Berman said he believes that figures regarding last year’s Uni drive are not available.

The EIF has provided a list of six types of food items that it recommends for donation:

• Canned meats
• Canned complete meals
• Canned beans or vegetables
• Canned fruits
• Boxed meals
• Peanut butter

The EIF also runs a coin drive and accepts cash donations. The foodbank receives 10 times more food per dollar donated because it buys food in bulk.

The EIF has set goals of raising $65,000 in funds and 190,000 pounds of food in this drive. Since EIF was founded in 1986, it has collected 3 million pounds of food for individuals and households within a 14-county area.

So why should you donate to the food drive?

"Donating food … not only helps others in need but can make you feel great too," said Berman. "It's pretty cool to be able to put that bag of food in the box and know that your food will go to someone who would otherwise be going hungry."

This is more like it. Donors will have another day to turn empty boxes into full ones like these. Gargoyle photo by Chris Yoder