Campus Dining is hosting their annual Thanksgiving Dinner for students on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Top of the UC. More than 1,800 students are expected for this festive event, and volunteer servers are greatly needed. Volunteers will be asked to serve for one hour starting at 4:45, 5:45 or 6:45 p.m.  This service opportunity is open to anyone 16 years of age or older, and all volunteers will get free dinner!  To sign up email Rose Benedict at rbenedic@umw.edu or call 540-654-2169.

PETA just announced their Vegan Report Card scores for hundreds of college and university dining programs across the nation. UMW Dining Services is proud to be one of only seven universities in the commonwealth of Virginia to receive an A or higher score. The PETA report scores are based on vegan menu options, dedicated vegan stations, promotion of vegan options, inclusion of vegan students on student dining advisory boards and other factors.

UMW Dining Services is continually expanding and enhancing the vegan options at the Top of the UC.  Special feature vegan entrees are offered at lunch and dinner daily at the Vegan Grill, and guests can also build their own vegan plate from ingredients at the Sustenance Station and have them grilled to order. In addition to the vegan sorbet offered at the Gelato Station, guests can now enjoy vegan cookies or cake at the Vegan Grill.

We’re very pleased that this year’s Student Culinary Council also includes vegan and vegetarian members.  For additional information about the vegan options available at the Top of the UC contact Rose Benedict at rbenedic@umw.edu.

Campus Dining and UMW Athletes are cosponsoring Sodexo’s 12th annual Stop Hunger Food drive November 4-13.  They are hoping to collect more than 8,000 pounds of food for the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank and are seeking participation and support from our UMW community.

Food donation bins will be located in every campus dining facility, Simpkins Library, and the UMW Bookstore, which will offer a discount on insignia items to those who make a food donation.  Cash donations will also be accepted at the Top of of the UC, and a “Stop Hunger” Heart with the donor’s name will be posted to encourage others to support the drive.

Students wishing to purchase canned goods for the drive may do so at the Market in the Eagle’s Nest, and they may use up to $100 of their Flex dollars for the purchases.

On Nov. 10, the athletes will be selling canned goods and taking monetary donations at the Top of the UC between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.  Students, faculty and staff may purchase the canned items or make monetary donations using cash or their EagleOne accounts.

The local YMCA and several area churches will also be participating in the drive. Campus Dining would welcome additional food collection opportunities here on campus or elsewhere in the Fredericksburg community. For further information on how you may support the drive please contact Rose Benedict or CaraMarie Christy at 540-654-2165 or dining@umw.edu.

Campus Dining Services and Sodexo are hosting the annual Chefs’ Fare competition on Wednesday, March 22, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Top of the UC. This year, chefs from Shenandoah University, Marymount University and Emory & Henry College will be competing with our UMW chefs to see who can present a dish that tastes the best and that also represents a comic book super hero or villain.

Our culinary team is taking on the personas of some of Batman’s most notorious villains: The Riddler, The Joker, and Harley Quinn. Everyone attending the Fare will be able to taste all of the entries and vote for their favorite team. The team with the most votes will win our competition.

Please join us at the Top of the UC for some great food and great fun. You can even get your photo taken with the Batman super villain standees! The cost for faculty and staff is just $6. Other guests will pay $11.80 plus tax. Doors open at 5 p.m. (Please note: The Top of the UC will be closed between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to prepare for the Fare). For additional information, contact Campus Dining at Dining@UMW.edu.

On Tuesday, March 28, Campus Dining by Sodexo and the Office of Human Resources are sponsoring a special two-part Health & Wellness Fair in Chandler Ballroom at the University Center.

Part 1: 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Showcase for UMW Employees.  Meet with representatives from our retirement vendors, health and dental insurance companies and local banks.

Part 2: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Showcase for UMW and Fredericksburg  community that includes freebies and demonstrations from providers of products and services that promote physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness.

More than 40 providers of health and wellness products and services are participating in the fair and everything is free! Exhibitors include Mary Washington Healthcare, Anthem BCBS, Kaiser, Aetna and Delta Dental, Weight Watchers, Ultimate Family Wellness, Massage Therapy Center, fitness centers, support groups, and many more! Fair highlights will include:

• Shoulder & Neck Massages
• Blood Pressure Checks
• Martial Arts, Creative Movement, Ballroom Dancing and Belly Dancing Demonstrations
• Body Fat Measurements
• Peak Flow Breathing Checks for Asthma
• Snack Samples from PepsiCo and General Mills and other Freebies!
• Numerous Prize Drawings!

Please plan to join us! For a list of participating exhibitors or more information contact Campus Dining, 540-654-2165 or Dining@UMW.edu

Campus Dining is launching Hot Spot pop-up lunch restaurants at the Eagle’s Nest beginning the week of Jan. 30.  The menus will change each week and feature some of the most requested grilled and fried entrees.

The menus will not usually be announced ahead of time, but we’re giving you a sneak peek for our opening week. We’ll be offering “Bodacious Burgers,” steak fries, onions rings and other all-American favorites!  Service times will always be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., but  you’ll need to like UMWDining on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or MyDtxt,  check our Top of the UC menu boards, or watch for our yard signs to know what day the Hot Spot will be open.  Keep your eyes open for this great new concept!

*Note: All items will be available for purchase with Flex, EagleOne, cash, or credit only.  Meal swipes not accepted.