Boston College students and BC Dining Services have partnered to donate 1015 pounds of food to St. Francis House in Boston, the largest day shelter in Massachusetts, through student-organized point drives that raised $250,000 last year.
The donation helped to pay for four main meals and two breakfasts for each of the 500 homeless and indigent men and women who visit the Boylston Street facility each day.
Associate Vice President of Auxiliary Services Pat Bando, praised the students for their generosity and the staff at BC Dining and Auxiliary Services for volunteering their time to deliver the food.
“BC students asked if we could help St. Francis House because so many of them volunteer there,” said Bando. “This is what BC is all about. We teach our students to be giving and to use their skills to help others, and they always respond. They are very generous, and our staff in Dining Services and Auxiliary Services were pleased to work with them as the vessel to deliver their donations in the form of food.”
Each year, BC Dining budgets for up to $250,000 in donations through point drives conducted with student groups selected by BC's Volunteer & Service Learning Center, Bando said.
VIDEO: Boston College Dining Services provides students with an opportunity to donate their year-end meal plan money to St. Francis House.
St. Francis House, open 365 days a year, serves 210,000 meals annually to Boston’s most vulnerable population. Since its founding in 1984, it has had a deep connection to Boston College, particularly through the University's PULSE and 4Boston student placements.
Seth Green, kitchen manager at St. Francis House, lauded BC students and Dining Services staff for their efforts. “Your donation not only helped with our costs, but allowed us to make high-quality meals for our guests,” said Green. “They are as excited as we are.”
Jack Dunn | University Communications | October 2019