UMW athletes donated over 10,000 pounds of food, with more added from University Dining. Thanks to every Eagle who helped make this year’s Stop Hunger Food Drive a success!
From every corner of Mary Washington this fall, the University is rallying around a shared mission – fighting food insecurity on campus and in the Fredericksburg community. Students, faculty and staff are joining forces through coordinated efforts designed to reduce hunger and expand access to essential resources.
The Talley Center for Counseling Services has launched a winter food drive in partnership with the Gwen Hale Resource Center (GHRC) to help restock supplies for those in need. Meanwhile, UMW Athletics, working with Dining Services, collected thousands of pounds of canned goods during its annual Stop Hunger initiative. And a new Swipe Out Hunger grant will help advance UMW’s ongoing basic needs programs.
Established in 2018 by the late Gwen Hale, longtime Director of UMW’s Writing Center, the GHRC provides food, clothing, school supplies and personal care items at no cost to students, staff or community members. The Center partners with UMW Dining Services, the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank, Giant Foods and other donors to help alleviate food insecurity and promote wellbeing across the Mary Washington community.
Talley Center staff rolled up their sleeves to replenish GHRC’s shelves; they’ll keep that momentum going with a Winter Food Drive.
Earlier this month, staff from the Talley Center rolled up their sleeves to replenish GHRC’s shelves, which were running low. The effort saw tremendous participation, including efforts by Talley Center Staff Counselor Demi Thompson and her husband, who raised thousands of dollars in donations. Together, the Talley Center and GHRC will keep the energy going through a Winter Food Drive running until start of the holiday break.
That spirit of service extends to UMW Athletics, where student-athletes once again led a strong push in the fight against hunger. During this year’s Stop Hunger Food Drive, athletes collected more than 10,000 pounds of food, and counting, for donation to the GHRC and Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, which feeds more than 50,000 local residents each year. University Dining also contributed and helps coordinate the event each year.
Adding to this momentum, UMW recently received a Swipe Out Hunger campus grant to further support its basic needs initiatives and reduce student food insecurity. The $4,000 award recognizes Mary Washington’s ongoing efforts to end college hunger, ensure equitable access to resources and strengthen programs like the GHRC.
Whether restocking shelves, spreading awareness or donating food, time or funds, Eagles continue to demonstrate a commitment to caring for one another, and for the broader community they call home.