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SUNY Fredonia’s Volunteer and Community Services Department will host its fourth “Operation Breakfast Rescue,” an annual breakfast-food item donation drive that benefits the Chautauqua Country Rural Ministry (CCRM), a United Way, grassroots advocacy agency that meets the needs of the homeless, working poor and disenfranchised in Chautauqua County.
The donations can be dropped off in G-138 in the Williams Center on March 10 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There will also be collection boxes located in all residence halls beginning March 5 through Tuesday, March 9.
Operation Breakfast Rescue is led by Joyce Harvard Smith, Coordinator of Volunteer and Community Services, with assistance from Martha Diaz, the campus’ AmeriCorps VISTA member. This important effort is co-sponsored by the Student Association.
“I feel it’s important to be able to give back and assist those in need. We continue this program because it has proven to be very successful,” said Smith, who confirmed that 208 pounds of food were collected last year. Among the items were oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, a variety of cold cereals, pancake mixes, breakfast bars, and canned fruit.
“I'm very excited about the event because it’s an opportunity for the students and campus community to improve the quality of life for residents in Chautauqua County by providing them with breakfast food that would have been hard to come by (due to their financial situations),” Diaz added.
The efforts of the campus are clearly appreciated by CCRM, an organization which assists thousands of families each year with a variety of needs.
The Volunteer and Community Services program helps college students get real-world experience while helping others in the community and beyond. The program aims to involve students within the community and helps to establish meaningful partnerships.
