Looking for ways to give back to the surrounding community?

Throughout the month, many opportunities abound at Rider University. Several activities are being sponsored by Rider’s Hunger and Homelessness (HAHA) program, the Feed The Hungry and Giving Trees projects and Rider’s annual Thanksgiving Luncheon.

Activities Sponsored by HAHA

The week's activities begin Monday, November 14 with "Jar Wars." Coins will be collected by residence hall residents for the purchase of cartons of milk in support of the "Got Milk Campaign." Those who contribute coins will receive an orange ribbon to show their support. The milk will be delivered to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK).

On Tuesday, November 15, the campus community is invited to stay in Kroner Hall basement starting at 7 p.m. for a campus "Lock-In." Throughout the night, participants will make fleece blankets to be taken to New York City as part of Rider's monthly distribution of clothing and food for MidNight Run, a Campus Ministry support group for the homeless.

The making of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches will take place on Wednesday, November 16. Peanut butter and jelly stations will be set up in front of Daly's and the Science and Technology building from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for students, faculty and staff to make sandwiches for the homeless. The sandwiches will be distributed during the MidNight Run to New York City from midnight to 3 p.m.

Other activities will include a "Hygiene and Clothing Drive" on Thursday, November 17 throughout the day (donations can be dropped off at Daly's or in the Bart Luedeke Center, Room 118) and an official "thank you" display of milk cartons at the doorsteps of those who donated to the "Got Milk Campaign" on Friday, November 18.

Feed the Hungry and Giving Trees Projects

Feed The Hungry - On Saturday, November 19, all are encouraged to participate in Rider's "Feed the Hungry" effort from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Mary's Cathedral in Trenton. The Rider community has an opportunity to provide 500 pre-Thanksgiving meals (prepared and donated by ARAMARK Food Services) to needy families as part of the church's "Loaves and Fishes" gathering. Monetary donations are needed to pay for additional supplies for The Loaves and Fishes and to help support Rider's MidNight Run.

Rider's Giving Trees - November 19 is also the start of Rider's annual Giving Trees Project - an opportunity to brighten a child's day with toys. From November 19 to December 10, toys for children at the Mill Hill Child and Family Developmental Center in Trenton may be dropped off at one of Rider's Giving Trees in the Catholic Campus Ministry Office (CCM) at Emmaus House, Gill Chapel, the Office of the Association of Commuting Students (ACS), the Student Government Association Office, and Westminster Choir College's Student Government Association (SGA) Office. Rider's Catholic Campus Ministry, ACS and Westminster's SGA sponsor the annual campus-wide project.

Thanksgiving Luncheon

The month’s giving-related activities will culminate with the University’s annual Thanksgiving luncheon on Tuesday, November 22. “A Reason to Celebrate” is the theme. Festivities take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Cavalla Room of the Bart Luedeke Center (BLC). The entire campus community is encouraged to bring Thanksgiving baskets complete with turkey and canned good items to the luncheon.

Luncheon tickets will be made available Monday November 14 through Friday, November 18 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Bart Luedeke Center ticket kiosk and on November 16 and 17 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and November 18 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Daly’s. Tickets will also be available in the Dean of Students Office at Westminster Choir College November 14 through November 18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The luncheon is free for students who present a ticket and donate a canned food item. The donation is $6 per ticket for faculty and staff. The distribution of at least 100 food baskets to local Trenton area families is the target goal. Members of student organizations, athletic teams and various campus offices will assemble and deliver the baskets.