Blue Table food drive a success

The first campuswide food drive for Blue Table, UB’s online food pantry service, is a success, with more than 2,500 food items being donated during the drive last month, the Blue Table Organizing Committee says.

And committee members want to stress that the group is still seeking monetary donations to sustain Blue Table through a crowdfunding drive that ends on Dec. 23.

As of Dec. 6, $9,600 has been raised, 96% of the $10,000 goal.

“On behalf of the Blue Table committee, a heartfelt thank you to our UB community for their support of our first, campuswide food drive benefiting our students,” says Maria Wallace, director of student unions and chair of the Blue Table oversight group.

The food drive, held Nov. 18-22, was a collaboration between Student Life, the undergraduate Student Association, the Faculty Senate and the Professional Staff Senate. Blue Table received 2,519 items ranging from canned vegetables, beans and soup to pasta, tuna, macaroni and cheese, and peanut butter.

Blue Table, which began with a soft launch last April, has been fully operational since the beginning of the fall semester.

It provides students with easy access to food when they need it.

Blue Table is available to UB students “who experience unanticipated hardship and as a result don’t have consistent access to healthy food,” says Ben Fabian assistant director for student support in Student Conduct and Advocacy, and a member of the Blue Table oversight group.

“We know that consistent access to nutritious food is a necessary part of being a successful, healthy student,” Fabian says.

Students using Blue Table complete an online order form that includes a list of diverse and healthy food options that are available each week. Once the order is received, the groceries are bagged and ready to be picked up in 235 Student Union.

“We strive to provide students with an easy and effective way to combat food insecurity,” Wallace says.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Blue Table crowdfunding drive can do so online. More information is available on the Blue Table website.