The University of Saint Francis faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends will continue their eight-year fight against food insufficiency in Northeast Indiana by participating in the second annual U Can Crush Hunger campaign, Oct. 24-Nov. 4. Begun in 2015 by Community Harvest Food Bank, U Can Crush Hunger is an intercollegiate food drive, a “friendly competition” among five northeast Indiana schools: USF, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), Indiana Tech, Ivy Tech Community College Northeast, and Huntington University. This year’s goal is to collect a total of 50,000 pounds of protein-rich food.

In response to the critical need in area food banks and soup kitchens during tough economic times, USF has had a fall food drive called USF Feeds the Fort since 2008. Between 2008 and 2014 USF donated over 210,000 food items (in actual food or monetary equivalents) to help feed those in need. Community Harvest Food Bank officials report that the USF drive has historically been the second largest annual collection of food coming into its facility, timed to impact needy families during the holidays.

The genesis of U Can Crush Hunger was heavily influenced by USF’s food-raising success: in 2015 Community Harvest approached representatives from the five area colleges, posing the idea of a “food fight” among them – to which all agreed. In cooperation with Community Harvest, these five schools did indeed crush hunger, collecting 42,400 pounds of food in actual food or monetary equivalents, and USF led the way with over 21,500 pounds – as much as the other four schools combined.

The USF community will again donate food and money, with student and employee events being planned to inform as well as motivate participation in the challenge. Alumni and friends are also invited to contribute to USF’s efforts to crush hunger by bringing protein-rich food items in non-glass containers to the North Campus Auditorium foyer at 2702 Spring Street, or by making a monetary donation. Every dollar donated is equivalent to three pounds of food. Checks should be made out to Community Harvest Food Bank, or cash can be given to any USF administrative assistant on its main and downtown campuses.

Donations can also be made by visiting the Community Harvest Food Bank home page, www.chfb.org, choosing USF, and following the prompts. All funds will go directly to Community Harvest Food Bank on USF’s behalf and will be tax-deductible.

For more information about U Can Crush Hunger, contact USF campaign coordinator Sister Anita Holzmer, OSF, at 260.399.7700, ext. 6705.