Southwestern Partners with Numana to SWIPE Out Hunger

Winfield, Kan., October 2, 2011 — Southwestern College partnered with Numana this year to package 33,912 meals for the Horn of Africa in a program called SWIPE, (state-wide packaging event). The event took place in the Roy L. Smith Student Center and over 350 SC students participated in the event from campus organizations Green Team, Leadership, Discipleship, All Athletics Teams, SGA and Stufu.

Numana provided 20,000 meals. The remaining 10,000+ meals were funded by SC. Each meal consists of rice, soy, freeze-dried beans, and a vitamin blend. At 30 cents a meal, the fundraising goal for the college was $3,000. Leadership, Discipleship, Green Team, SC Athletic teams, SC Chapel, Student Government, and Student Foundation all contributed financially to the cause as well as physically. Other donors included Winfield’s First United Methodist Church, Central Baptist Church, and the Kiwanis Club.

World hunger is one of the most dismal situations facing our world today, according to Lindsay Wilke, assistant director of Leadership Southwestern. Nearly 1 billion go to bed hungry every night and 25,000 people die every day from hunger related issues. But in just one hour, 10 people can package 1,200 meals and help save countless lives.

Green Team participants of Numana SWIPE event

"Service is ingrained in the culture of SC, from students to faculty and staff. To serve in a way that helps to decrease poverty, even a little bit is a tremendous honor, says Jason Speegle, director of Green Team Southwestern.

“We appreciate the community’s support as SC attempts to live out its mission of service and allow college students to contribute to a greater cause,” says Lindsay Wilke, director of Leadership Southwestern.