Members of the Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group announced Saturday that WISPIRG's monthlong Hunger Cleanup raised over $10,000 to help fight hunger and homelessness.
The Hunger Cleanup is held to address hunger and homelessness both in the area and nationwide and involves volunteers painting, working at local shelters, planting gardens and raising money for charities.
As of Saturday morning, WISPIRG surpassed their goal of $10,000 with a total of $10,238 raised. UW-Madison student and Hunger and Homelessness Coordinator Mariana Berbert said she expects the final total to be near $11,000.
""We've really seen this year how much students do care about their community and how much power we actually have to make a change,"" Berbert said.
Berbert also addressed WISPIRG's Haiti Relief and Hunger Strike and said UW-Madison students have made enormous contributions.
Vijay Pai, WISPIRG Hunger and Homelessness intern, said 50 percent of the money raised for the Hunger Cleanup will go to the Community Action Coalition in Madison, 15 percent will go to Haiti relief funds and 35 percent will go to the National Student Campaign against Hunger and Homelessness.
Chris Brockel of the Community Action Coalition for south central Wisconsin said the organization's goal is to purchase food, alleviate poverty and better the lives of people in the Madison and south central Wisconsin area.
Brockel said the approximately $5,000 donated by the Hunger Cleanup will be converted into about 20,000 meals.
""Two years ago in Dane County there were 85,000 households that visited food pantries,"" Brockel said. ""Last year in Dane County there were 170,000 families that visited food pantries.""
Brockel said he was appreciative of the volunteers who helped with the event, particularly UW-Madison students.
""Our food pantry relies on about 17,000 hours of volunteer hours every year, so the things that we do are not possible without volunteers like [UW-Madison students]"" Brockel said.
