Soup & Bread Night Raises Over $2,000

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire students raised $2,174.51 for Feed My People, the only food bank in west central Wisconsin, through the Blugold Dining program's recent Soup and Bread Night initiative.

Students selected soups, breads and beverages to replace the usual evening and late-night meals at Riverview Cafe in Hilltop Center. The Feb. 13 event was attended by 2,201 people, who were served by volunteers from a number of student organizations and members of the Blugold Dining committee. The proceeds to be given to Feed My People will consist of a donation from Blugold Dining as the savings in labor and food costs, as well as cash donations collected during the event.

Emily Moore, executive director of Feed My People Food Bank, will be invited to an upcoming Blugold Dining committee meeting to accept the donation.

Feed My People Food Bank distributes donated food to more than 100 agencies serving senior citizens, single parents, the working poor, the homeless, the mentally ill and others in need throughout the Chippewa Valley. About six million pounds of food is distributed each year to hunger relief agencies in 14 counties. In 2012 more than 60,000 individuals living in west central Wisconsin -- about 38 percent of them children -- relied on food they received from programs supplied by Feed My People.