Hearts For Hunger

Heart-Felt Annual Food Drive At Northwestern A Success

Northwestern Health Sciences University students and employees opened their hearts to a community food shelf program, donating 360 pounds of food and nearly $600 for families in need.

The four-week University food drive campaign, called Hearts for Hunger, enabled students and employees to assist local elderly, disabled, and low-income families through the Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) program in Bloomington. 

The food drive kicked off on Valentine’s Day and used a heart theme to attract attention to the donation drop boxes. “Hearts for Hunger is held every year around Valentine’s Day because it gives us the opportunity to be charitable during the months that food shelves are often neglected,” said Ryan Chapman, community relations coordinator. “It is important to remember those in need throughout the year.”

Due to the success of Hearts for Hunger, the University is hoping to expand their charity to other areas. “We have always encouraged our students and employees to become involved in different kinds of charity,” said Jeff Graham, BA, the University’s human resources recruitment coordinator and co-chair of the Community Service Committee. “We plan to continue supporting local organizations like VEAP, but we are open to the idea of incorporating charities that are suggested by our employees and students.”

VEAP, a local organization, serves low-income, elderly, and disabled residents in the Bloomington, Edina, and Richfield area. VEAP provides a variety of basic services to fulfill the immediate needs in people's lives so that they may position themselves for long-term success. In 2004, VEAP provided 13,274 households with a nutritious, five-day supply of food.