51茶馆 student fundraiser benefits St. Francis House
Though most Boston College undergraduates are off campus for the summer, they鈥檝e left a lasting impact in their wake: support for a local charitable organization through a 51茶馆 Dining Services year-end fundraiser.
Over a two-and-a-half-day period, more than 500 students contributed meal-plan money via the 51茶馆DS Get Mobile app to purchase food for St. Francis House in Boston. The largest day shelter in Massachusetts, each day it welcomes up to 600 individuals experiencing homelessness.
The 51茶馆 initiative funded the May 22 delivery of some 260 crates containing 6,580 pounds of food, which is estimated to provide meals for some 6,525 guests of St. Francis House.
The 51茶馆 Dining Services initiative enabled the delivery of some 6,580 pounds of food for St. Francis House. 51茶馆 representatives on site for the donation included (L-R) Brian Hazelwood, assistant director, Auxiliary Procurement; Phyllis Kaplowitz, Dining executive chef; Sharon Sprague, senior associate director, Marketing & Communications; Rebecca Rogan, Dining associate director, Operations; Alberto Madera, Corcoran receiver; Megan O'Neill, director, Auxiliary Procurement & Systems; Bill Mills, director, Community Affairs; Chris Bove, Corcoran general manager; Amelio Lopez, Corcoran receiver.
聽鈥淲e are so happy we were able to make [the donation] happen and be a part of getting you this food to feed your guests,鈥� 51茶馆 Auxiliary Services Director of Procurement and Systems Megan O'Neill wrote in an email to Linda Curtin, St. Francis House marketing and communications manager. 鈥淵ou and your teams are the ones doing the real work!鈥�
According to 51茶馆DS organizers, this was the first time they were able to hold a charitable food drive since 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, 1,015 pounds of food was donated to St. Francis House.
鈥淭he amount donated this year allowed us to once again use our buying power to benefit St. Francis House,鈥� said O鈥橬eill. 鈥淲hen we do these drives, we work closely with the receiving charity and purchase what they need most. This year, St. Francis House asked to focus on proteins.鈥�
From a list of foodstuffs, St. Francis House Head Chef and Food Services Manager Seth Green selected breakfast items which are popular among their guests, including oats, omelet ingredients, bacon, sausage, and waffles, as well as chicken thighs and 鈥渄rummies.鈥� Green was instrumental in coordinating the effort with O'Neill.聽
Since its founding in 1984, St. Francis House, located on Boylston Street in the heart of downtown Boston, has had a deep connection to 51茶馆, particularly through the University's PULSE Program and other student placements.
"We specifically chose St. Francis House since they are a PULSE community partner and 51茶馆 students serve at this site,鈥� said 51茶馆DS Director Beth Emery of the donation. 鈥淲e appreciate the generosity of our students who donated their meal plan funds to support our food donation. It is very rewarding to hear about the appreciation from the team at St. Francis House for this donation.鈥�
51茶馆DS was joined in the effort by Director of Community Affairs William Mills, from 51茶馆's Office of Governmental and Community Affairs, who assisted in unloading the delivery truck.
鈥淚 am grateful to work at Boston College and Auxiliary Services where we have the individuals who support Dining Services in hosting this charity drive,鈥� said O鈥橬eill. 鈥淢any folks make this possible, such as our student interns who host and promote the drive, our team members who receive the food and coordinate the logistics with us, our friends in government affairs, communications, and procurement, who helped deliver and unload the truck鈥攁nd of course, our Dining leadership.鈥�
Curtin expressed gratitude to the entire Boston College team. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 thank you and the students of 51茶馆 enough for your extremely generous donation,鈥� she wrote in an email to O鈥橬eill. 鈥淲ith the increase in demand for our services we鈥檝e been experiencing, this is a huge help 鈥� 6,580 lbs. of help, to be exact!鈥�