Furman students pack food for the hungry

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Furman University’s chapter of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega wanted to do something bigger, according to Lauren Holmes, the organization’s vice president of service.

With $8,000 from the Student Government Association, Alpha Phi Omega partnered with the international hunger relief fund Rise Against Hunger to pack 23,382 meals in three hours on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, according to a news release.

The money paid for the food, cost of transportation to get it to Furman and for packaging materials, Holmes said in the release. The meals were enough to feed 108 children in various countries for an entire school year.

“We wanted to do something that had a much bigger impact and could involve many people,” Holmes said in the release. About 50 volunteers took part, including about 35 Alpha Phi Omega members.

“This partnership with Rise Against Hunger allowed APO to strengthen the three pillars of their work: leadership, fellowship and service,” John Kaup, faculty adviser, said in the release. “I am excited to see them expand their community impact and look forward to this becoming an annual tradition.”