THE SEASON OF GIVING: STUDENTS DONATE MOUNDS OF MEALS

For more than 300 Southeast Missouri State University students, finding plenty to eat around the holidays isn't a problem.

So, led by Steven Walker and Marie Reichardt, they donated more than 2,300 unused meals to the Cape Girardeau Senior Center, the Salvation Army and the Safe House for Women. Students had paid for the meals but never used the credits during the fall semester, which ended Friday.

Some use their credits to stock up on soft drinks, but many go to waste because meal credits don't carry over to the spring semester. Walker and Reichardt came up with the idea of donations late last week and enlisted other students in their cause.

"Most people were really excited," said Reichardt.

Chartwells Educational Dining Services, which operates the food service at the university, ordered a truckload of food equivalent to the amount needed to prepare the 2,300 meals.

The food needed to make that many meals is staggering -- 312 pounds of canned vegetables, 350 pounds of hamburger, 180 pounds of turkey, 200 pounds of ham, 60 pounds of chicken, 345 oranges, 500 potatoes, 120 pounds of sugar, 75 pounds of rice, 100 pounds of flour, 180 pounds of instant potatoes, 100 pounds of corn meal, three cases of egg noodles and three cases of spaghetti.

Friday afternoon, Reichardt, Walker and fellow student Matt Cuba, along with food service employees, readied a shipment of food to the Cape Girardeau Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is expected to use some of the food in its annual Christmas baskets for the needy. The Cape Girardeau Senior Center will use the food to assist with its regular noon meals for the elderly.

"All in all, it went really well," Walker said as he prepared to help sort the stacked boxes of instant potatoes, diced chicken and other products. "I was surprised so many students got involved."

Several student organizations joined in the effort. Members of Alpha Chi Omega sorority donated 500 meals, the largest single donation by a student organization.

Walker said there were a few "Grinches" among the student body, but most students he contacted were glad to turn over their unused meals.

Walker and Reichardt already are looking ahead. They hope to organize a similar food drive at the end of the spring semester.