Hunger affects more than 35 million people in the United States every
day. Almost 12 million of them are children. But together, we can make a
difference and help those in need within our community.
 
Are you interested in helping to end hunger? Do you still need hours for
citizenship? As a Helping Hands volunteer, not only would you be collecting
food to feed the hungry, you will also be building your leadership and
communication skills!

With the help from volunteers like you, we were able to raise over 15,000
pounds of food in one weekend to donate in 2009 and over 26,000 pounds last
year. Because of volunteers like you, we were able to support the local
pantries and soup kitchens in Biddeford, Saco, Kennebunk, Dayton and Lyman
during the holidays.

What can you do to help? We will need:
 - Volunteers to help with the Helping Hands Weekend collection on the
weekend of October 22nd and 23rd. At the supermarkets, we tell the customers
what we are doing, why, and who its for. At all locations, people will be
dropping food off and we collect it from them.
 - Volunteers to help distribute the collected food to the local food
pantries in November. This will take place in Decary Dining Hall.
 - Volunteers to help with promotional materials and publicizing.
 - Project coordinators to connect and communicate with high schools in the
Biddeford and Saco to run collections and events at the schools
 - Project coordinators to reach out to other student organizations to
collaborate in various fundraising event: Rotoract, RSLA, International
Club, etc.

The biggest annual event we have is the October weekend where we raise most
of our food to donate. On the weekend of October 22nd and 23rd, we will hold
our collection at Shaw’s Supermarkets of Biddeford and Saco, and at the Saco
Train Station. We need volunteers to help with collection at all locations.
The food drive will run from 9a.m. to 5p.m. on both days. There will be 4
hour shifts each day, you are welcome to volunteer during one shift, or you
can volunteer for all four shifts. We will have muffins and scones in the
morning, snacks and drinks throughout the day. Lunch will be provided, and
you’ll get to hang out with all kinds of generous, wonderful people!

There will be an informational meeting on Sunday, October 2nd at 3p.m. in
Decary Dining Hall’s function rooms. For those who are interested in
leadership positions are Project Coordinators, this meeting is mandatory. If
you are not available at that time, please let me know.

Alvin Lam, Coordinator
Helping Hands Across America
University of New England
207.450.7702
alam1@une.edu

Sponsored by Sodexo