Thanksgiving Coalition plans to feed 350 families
By Gene Johnson
Daily Free Press Staff Writer

With the holidays just weeks away, several Boston University student groups have tossed their support to the Thanksgiving Coalition, an annual endeavor they hope will raise nearly $7,000 to feed 350 families during Thanksgiving break.

Founded four years ago, the coalition puts together food baskets— large enough to feed a family of four for three days— which it distributes just before Thanksgiving.

On the morning of Nov. 23, volunteers will fill brown paper bags with food bought by the coalition or donated by other groups and deliver them to the Allston-Brighton Food Pantry, said Christine Byrd, coalition co-chairperson and a Sargent College of Allied Health Professions senior. The participating families, who are selected by the pantry's staff, can pick up their food at the pantry. Any leftover food will be donated to the pantry.

While the coalition itself is comprised of a small group of students, organizations from around the university have held fund-raisers and food drives to support the endeavor.

"We're trying to feed as many families as we can with the gift baskets," said Byrd, who has been a member of the coalition for four years. "So many groups are getting involved that it's hard to keep track of them all. We've had a tremendous amount of support across campus."

The School of Management college government sold "ghost insurance" for $5 on Halloween, agreeing to clean up if an insurance owner's house was egged or toilet-papered. Byrd said Wednesday night that she had not yet heard how much the drive had raised.

One big financial boost came from BU's a capella groups, which held a concert last Saturday night that raised $4,200. Other initiatives include an '80s retro-dance for tomorrow night, hosted by the Golden Key Honor Society, and a semi-formal on Nov. 15, which is being organized by the College of Arts and Sciences forum.

Faculty, too, are helping with the project. Michael Ciarlante, a coalition adviser and the director of BU's Information Services, said the group launched a "Turkey Buck" program this semester to make it as easy as possible for faculty and staff to help out.

"Bringing food in is kind of a pain, so we just put envelopes in every department at BU, and we're asking faculty and staff members to donate 50 cents each," Ciarlante said. "The coalition challenged them to raise $1,000 dollars, and early returns show that we will definitely meet the challenge."

In addition, Byrd said she has received word that BU president Jon Westling may stop into the all-day bag-packing marathon at the Fuller Building on Nov. 23 to offer the 100 expected volunteers a few words of support.

"We take whatever help we can get," Byrd said. "But whatever we do will be a success."

By all accounts, the coalition has been a great success. In its first year, the group fed just two families. The following year, recipients grew to 40 families, and over the past two years, more than 300 families have been served. Byrd said this year more student groups than ever have volunteered their support.

"It's very exciting to see the students so enthusiastic and knowing that a lot of good is being done," Ciarlante said.