DePaul Dining partnered with the St. Vincent Parish this holiday season to introduce a new holiday donation campaign, the St. Vincent Donation. This allows students to donate a meal to a family in need using their meal plan money as well as help the parish after the holiday season. Students can also donate any amount of their choice at any dining register in the Lincoln Park and Loop campus.

James Lee, Resident District Manager of Chartwells Dining Services at DePaul, saw a need for DePaul to aid the parish during the winter and holiday season.

“In the past, we’ve focused our donations towards the end of the academic year,” Lee said. “We’ve attempted some holiday donations, but they were not always successful. So, for this year we thought that focusing on ‘giving a meal’ would be a great way to give back to those in need.”

According to the holiday donation flyer, donations start as low as $35 and up to $80 to donate a meal for a family of five.

In addition to providing families with meals, Lee said the donations will also continue to benefit the parish after the holiday season.

“With so many organizations in the city, we wanted to do something different,” Lee said. “Our plan is to collect donations from the DePaul community and provide a delicious, filling, hot meal after the holidays when everyone goes back to their routine and giving is not always on the forefront.”

Lee says that DePaul students have responded to this campaign more than in previous years. The hot meal is scheduled to be held on Jan. 17, 2016.

Donations collected will also benefit the parish stock up on weekly necessities.

“We will also use the donations to provide weekly necessities for the Parish on items like coffee, sugar, chili, fruit, and paper ware.  This will carry them through the winter quarter.” Lee said.

Soup Kitchen Coordinator at St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen Katie Liefer sees the impact these donations have on the parish.

“We are able to buy supplies to keep our soup kitchen running including paper goods like cups, soup bowls, and plates along with food and beverage items such as milk, coffee, chili, and fruit,” Leifer said, “As long as students are willing to donate through Chartwells we will be able to serve our guests in a more profound way than we would be able to without this generous support.”

Lee hopes to continue to do a drive every couple of months and continue the partnership with the parish.

“Saint Vincent de Paul is known to be the ‘Apostle of Charity’ and together, we can do our part to support those in need” Lee said.

To volunteer at the hot meal on Jan. 17 contact James Lee at [email protected]. To volunteer at the soup kitchen please contact Katie Liefer, at [email protected]

Additionally, the parish is looking for specific nonperishable donations including coffee, sugar, creamer, adult socks and hats.