Bradley’s chapter of Kappa Omicron Nu (KONu), the national honor society for the human sciences, hosted a care packaging event Monday afternoon in Markin’s basement.
Volunteers prepared “WEkend CARE” packages, comprised of snacks and encouraging notes. Pleasant Hill Elementary will receive 240 kits, Norwood Primary will receive 230 and Norwood Elementary will receive 175.
“Our goal is to pack 600 to 650 snack packs in two days so that students are able to have the snack packs later that very week,” KONu publicist and senior hospitality leadership major Abbie Brunstad said. “Close to 80 percent of these kids qualify for free and reduced lunch, and many of them go home on Fridays to empty cupboards. We will be preparing WEkend CARE packages with snacks to feed their bellies and hearts.”
Packages will be delivered before Thanksgiving break to ensure that students have food through the long weekend. This event supported KONu’s national initiative theme of social responsibility.
“Every year, KONu takes on a national initiative with a different theme,” KONu president and senior dietetics major Katie Breen said. “A lot of us are very passionate about fighting childhood hunger and doing our part to help those that are less fortunate than us. One of our goals is to empower leadership through student involvement and help make a difference in our community.”
Past national initiatives included professional development, soft skills in the workplace and anti-bullying. Magdalena Sas, assistant professor of family and consumer science and the adviser of KONu, initially recommended the packaging project to the executive board.
“[Sas] spent most of her summer filling out a grant application through a non-profit organization that we would supply volunteers for to complete this project,” Breen said. “Unfortunately, we did not receive the grant, but a private donor was touched by our cause and donated the funds needed to buy the supplies for the packs. We officially began coordinating the rest of the project after that, and here we are.”
The honor society advertised the event on Hilltop Happenings to gain more volunteers. Around 25 students participated during Monday’s shift of packaging.
“I just think it’s a good opportunity for Bradley students to step outside of the Bradley community and just learn about the Peoria community that’s around them,” KONu secretary and senior dietetics major Grace Elbl said. “I just imagine kids getting these snack packs and being really excited for not only just a fun snack, but just to have food for an extended weekend.”
