SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – In recognition of World Hunger Day on May 28, Cal Poly University Housing and Campus Dining are asking students, faculty and staff to remember their fellow Mustangs, and give to the Mustang Meal Share program or any of the student-support resources on campus.
“We know that there are a lot of students in the Cal Poly community who are struggling with basic nutrition and getting enough to eat every day,” Campus Dining Registered Dietitian Kelsey McCourt said. “Mustang Meal Share is one more way that we can support those students and help Cal Poly Essentials continue to expand access to healthy and delicious food that will nourish students and promote success.”
An initiative of The Hunger Project, World Hunger Day is a movement acknowledging and bringing awareness to global poverty and hunger. This encourages communities, individuals, organizations and businesses to recognize that solutions to our problems lie within each of us.
A program of Campus Dining, Mustang Meal Share allows all first-year students with a meal plan to donate up to $195, enough for 30 meals, anytime throughout the academic year, to help fellow students who are struggling with food insecurity. The program is self-sustaining, and provides an easy way for food insecure students to gain access to nutritious meals so they can focus on their studies and success. All unused Mustang Meal Share money will be rolled over to provide continued support to students on campus.
Mustang Meal Share helps students experiencing food insecurity receive support while remaining anonymous by creating an avenue for first-years to donate from their dining plan.
“University Housing is committed to continuing its partnership with Campus Dining to support students with food insecurity,” said Juliette Duke, senior director of University Housing. “Residents of campus housing have already donated nearly $9,000 to Mustang Meal Share this academic year. We’re proud of the many ways our student residents support their fellow Mustangs and our campus community.”
The program is part of Cal Poly Essentials, which is committed to ensuring that finances, mental well-being, and access to food and housing do not become obstacles to student success. Cal Poly Essentials includes Cal Fresh Outreach, the Food Pantry, monthly Food Bank distribution on campus, and the Community Garden.
To donate a meal, students can go to calpolydining.com/diningprograms/mustangmealshare/ fill out the Mustang Meal Share form, and submit it.
Students in need of a meal can contact the Dean of Students office at [email protected] or (805) 756-2472.
Mustang Meal Share is one of many initiatives that Campus Dining leads to support students in need. Feed Cal Poly provides weekly meal donations to the Cal Poly Food Pantry. This allows all customers an opportunity to donate to CP Essentials at the register of any Campus Dining venue. In addition, Cal Fresh recipients can utilize their benefits at Campus and Village markets.
