Happy Hunger Games!

This Thanksgiving season, UW-Whitewater residence halls will be competing in the “Whitewater Hunger Games.”

Though there will be no fighting to the death in this competition, the winner of the games will be determined by which hall can collect the most non-perishable food items for the Milwaukee Hunger Task Force.

On the first weekend of November, Residence Hall Association will place large bins in the lobby of every dorm complex. For those who do not live in the residence halls, RHA will put bags on the front door of every home in Whitewater.

RHA and members of UW-Whitewater’s Communication and Team Building class have teamed up to raise a collective goal of 7,000 pounds of food from the entire Whitewater community.

The food drive event team from the team-building course aspires to raise 2,000 pounds of food from dorm residents. RHA is striving to collect 5,000 pounds of food.

The Communication and Team Building class is divided into four groups. Each group is required to work together to host a project or event.

The event team hosting the Whitewater Hunger Games chose to raise food for the Milwaukee Hunger Task Force. The task force supplies food pantries, homeless shelters and soup kitchens throughout Southern Wisconsin.

Junior Sarah McFadden, a student in the Communication and Team Building course, said the food drive event team chose an ambitious goal to show Whitewater students that their contribution, whether it is a box of mac and cheese or a can of chicken noodle soup, makes a difference.

“One little thing can feed one person or maybe even an entire family. So every little bit really does help,” McFadden said.

McFadden said the team wanted to host an event similar to the RHA food drive that catered specifically to students on campus. Students in the team-building course said they felt a contest that involved competition among students would make donating fun.

Junior Brandon Albright is also a member of the food drive event team this semester.

Albright said his group is thankful for the guidance of RHA and the support of the Milwaukee Hunger Task Force throughout their project.

RHA helped promote the drive by displaying flyers and talking to residents. The Milwaukee Hunger Task Force donated the boxes displayed in the front offices of each hall.

Albright said he encourages students to participate in this charitable cause by donating just a few food items they do not need.

“Think of what you would do if your family wasn’t able to provide a dinner,” Albright said. “It’s a big problem in this country that we need to keep in mind, especially with Thanksgiving coming up.”

The winner will be announced Nov. 12. The Leadership Involvement Team of the first place residence hall will be awarded a JamBox and pizza party and second place will also receive a JamBox.

For updates about the games, you can visit “The Whitewater Hunger Games” on Facebook.

May the odds be ever in your favor.