Food for Fines collects 900 items, waives $2,000 in fees
The Central Michigan University Student Food Pantry logo.
The Central Michigan University Police Department collected over 900 items to donate to the CMU Student Food Pantry from over 100 people, according to a Facebook post made by the department on Monday.
The items were collected as part of the “Food for Fines” program, which allowed students to donate items to the food pantry to waive up to $35 in parking ticket fees. The program ran from Dec. 3-7 and resulted in over $2,000 in forgiven fees.
Items collected included non-perishable food items like cereal, canned goods and boxed macaroni and cheese. Other items, like rolls of toilet paper and paper towels, were also accepted.
The CMU Student Food Pantry was established as a result of collaboration between the student government association, Facilities Management, and the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center. Dexter graduate student Kourtney Koch runs the pantry, while senior Brendan Mantey works as a student coordinator to manage student volunteers.
It distributes food every two weeks, with food being distributed for the first time on Nov. 27 and again on Dec 11.
Any currently enrolled CMU students can receive food from the pantry if they register on the pantry’s OrgSync page.
