Students donate excess dining plan money to

On May 2-4, Virginia Tech’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity and the Office of Student Programs are teaming up for the fifth consecutive year to allow students to donate their extra meal plan money to fight hunger.

SAE Flex Out Hunger Coordinator David Bieler, a fourth-year finance major from Great Falls, Virginia, said the fraternity participates in this event as its philanthropy project. “A lot of students are more than happy to contribute to a worthy cause such as this. When they’re presented with an opportunity, they’re eager to take it,” Bieler said.

All of the money raised will be donated to the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program (MCEAP), an organization which assists members of the local community who for reasons beyond their control are temporarily unable to provide for themselves. The MCEAP not only provides food, but also clothing, furniture, and financial assistance for utilities. Every dollar collected during the Flex Out Hunger campaign goes toward gift certificates to local grocery stores, which the MCEAP will distribute. Last year students donated a total of $8,160.

This year, SAE members will be accepting donations outside of West End Market, Dietrick Dining Center, Owens Food Court, and Hokie Grill & Co. and inside Squires Food Court. To donate, students simply fill out a form and then take it to a cashier who will deduct the donation from their account.

Luther Moseley, unit manager senior for dining services, said: “Student Programs is behind SAE in this endeavor. We’re delighted to assist a student group with such a worthy cause.”

Sponsors for this year’s Flex Out Hunger are: The Village at Blacksburg and Joe Frat, a T-shirt company owned by John Lloyd, of Blacksburg, who organized the program for SAE last year when he was a senior at Virginia Tech.