KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – With around 25% of students at Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College listed as food- insecure, a local group of mothers has launched an effort to provide free meals.
Free College Meals from Mom has officially launched its membership drive to raise money to feed food-insecure college students in Kalamazoo. They say the organization’s objective is to restore Thursday’s free dinner service at the Wesley Foundation by mid-October, and establish a third meal on Wednesdays throughout the remainder of the academic school year.
Free College Meals from Mom coordinator Kristen Knotek is a WMU graduate, and says, “Supporting Free College Meals from Mom will give college students nutritious meals and a break from the struggle to find and prepare not only delicious food, but at no cost to them. Many of us remember what it was like to be in their position with homework, a social life and the physicality of college taking its toll. Their next meal is not always at arm’s length without effort.”
Knotek says when students have access to regular meals, they can focus better, have a higher chance of succeeding in college, and that leads to better career prospects and a brighter future.
(courtesy Free College Meals from Mom)
According to statistics from Western Michigan University, a total of 22 percent of WMU’s students and 26 percent of Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s students are food insecure.
Free College Meals from Mom’s members will help buy groceries, prepare and serve meals, and assist with mentoring students if needed.
The new service club is open to all college students and their mothers. Annual membership fees range from $25 for college students to $50 and up for moms. Corporate sponsors are encouraged to enroll. Each new member will receive a t-shirt as a thank-you gift for joining.
The organization has also established a GoFundMe campaign at http://www.gofundme.com/f/freecollegemeals.
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