Fionn Smyth and Jessica Panetta
Lights, Camera – ACTION!
McMaster Students are ready to help those in need. The Drive Away Hunger food bank drive will occur this Tuesday as part of Welcome week. The campaign will ask students to donate food to support the McMaster Student Union’s (MSU) Breadbin food-bank, St. Matthew’s House, the Eva Rockwell Centre and the Reach Out Centre for Kids (R.O.C.K).
“We are hitting two important things with this campaign,” stated Jessica Panetta who holds the volunteer position of Humanities Faculty Planner. “We can do something about poverty and we can create a positive relationship with the community.” We want to “put the positive back into Welcome Week.”
Fionn Smyth, also a Humanities Faculty Planner, stated that the agencies are “very very happy to be asked to be part of this…beyond words happy”
“Our goal is to introduce students to (the agencies) said Jessica. “Students in first year are in transition, from being a big fish in a small pond to a small fish in a big community.” Students need to know that they can make a difference and “that they are part of something that is so important to these agencies.”
Each campus faculty will have at least two planners working on the campaign. There will also planners from the MSU, Inter-Residence Council, the Society for Off-Campus Students (SOCS) and the Centre for Student Development (CSD). Each planner will then have a team of student volunteer reps who will work directly with the students as arrive on campus.
Jessica and Fionn said they wanted something that everyone could do. “Just ask people to bring stuff” stated Jessica. This way we can “start off with a really strong year…then it can only get better.”
There has been an overwhelming response from faculty, staff and students. “Fionn and I could not be more proud of the response.”
Jessica and Fionn also praised Michele Corbeil, co-chair of the McMaster United Way, who has with provided strong support. “Michele has been behind us 100%…she always has such a positive influence. Just encourages us to make these efforts” stated Jessica.
Fionn Smyth is a third year student who is working towards a double major in Theatre & Film and Labour Studies. Jessica Panetta is a fourth year student who is doing a double major in Theatre & Film and religion with a minor in sociology.
%%%%
