Marquette Ending Hunger (MEH) is collecting non-perishable food items and monetary donations for the TV6 Canathon through Dec. 1. Drop off locations for cans are located in multiple locations and counties and are listed on the TV6 community page.

Through the Canathon and other campus events, the student organization — Marquette Ending Hunger – intends to raise awareness of food insecurity and bust misconceptions of what food insecurity is.

“There’s a lot of misconceptions about food insecurity, because I think when people think of it, they think of people who don’t have any food at all. But it can be [that] you don’t have enough food for dinner or you’re just not capable of eating three meals [a day] because you can’t afford it,” said Sydney Butler, MEH vice president.

The Canathon raises awareness that food insecurity can affect anyone, including neighbors and classmates. 

“A lot of people aren’t aware, but this is very much a part of our community and it’s also a part of the campus community. It’s good to participate in something that is very directly affecting you and your community,” said Jaiden Cunningham, MEH secretary.

Cunningham adds how this impacts communities in Marquette County and the Upper Peninsula, specifically Gwinn and K.I. Sawyer.

“It’s very close to home and I don’t think a lot of people know that,” Cunningham said.

Later this month, MEH will host a trivia night to raise funds and non-perishable foods for the NMU Food Pantry, which is located in Gries Hall.

“A lot of college students here experience [food insecurity] because we’re all collectively broke and it can be really difficult. This is really important because we have such an amazing food pantry, and we want people to know that they can go there whenever they need stuff,” Butler said.

Another issue MEH hopes to address with their campus events is stigma and shame students may feel picking up groceries at the food pantry.

“I don’t think a lot of people allow themselves. When they need to go to a food pantry, go to a food pantry. A lot of students think ‘oh, I don’t need it, I’ll go to Cat Trax or go to the dining hall,’ but the food pantry needs people to get food, they have too much food,” Cunningham said.

The Canathon is also a good experience for the members of MEH, who get hands-on experience and can physically see the difference they are making by participating in the can drive.

“Being able to do this is really a hands-on experience for me that I don’t get elsewhere. It’s so easy to be able to help people a little bit, and obviously it makes you feel a little bit good,” Butler said.

In addition to physical donations, monetary donations can be made online here.