By Amanda Hickey
Staff Writer

The cafeteria is collecting canned food donations for the underprivileged through Dec. 10. In order to increase the amount of canned goods raised, the UNCP cafeteria offered an incentive to students: for every five canned goods that are brought in, that student will receive a free meal.

The UNCP Dining Services isn't only about feeding the student body. They're also trying to stop hunger in the community. The UNCP Cafeteria, as participants in the Caring Cans program of SODEXHO Corporation, is raising canned goods to give to locals who are in need.

According to the Caring Cans brochure, Caring Cans is an effective way to generate awareness of those less fortunate. It also gives an opportunity to give back to the community.

"What we do as a company, every university, college, higher education and lower education, we do a can drive for the local community to reduce hunger," UNCP Dining Services Director Mike Nance said.
According to Nance, this is a good deal. Canned goods often are low priced, so a student could get a free meal for around a dollar, when it costs $4.80 to eat lunch in the cafeteria.

As of Nov. 18, 200 pounds of canned goods had been donated.

"The number one object in order to fight hunger is to make people aware and do our part to help the needy out," Nance said.

Last year, 500 pounds of goods were raised. Those canned goods were given to Patty Jenkins of the Robeson House.

"When we do these [events], we give away prizes that are pretty substantial to participating," Nance said.