If you could donate your unused guest meal swipes to a fellow student in need, would you? Until Friday, Nov. 30, you can directly impact another student by donating the guest meal swipes you don’t plan on using. Simply drop by any of the in-person donation locations and times and donate in person! If you have guest meals available to donate, you have already received a direct email from University Dining allowing you to donate online as well.

During the 2018 spring and summer semesters, NC State Student Government in coordination with NC State Dining created and piloted the PACK Meal Share Program. Through an initial donation of meal swipes from Dining, the program was immediately available and accessible to students who found themselves temporarily facing food insecurity during the fall 2018 semester.

This program’s future now rests in the hands of the students of NC State. As a voluntary peer-to-peer donation program, this program relies on just that: students donating their unused guest meal swipes to other students. With 14 percent of our student body experiencing low or very low food security in the past 30 days, ensuring reliable access to food is not only the responsibility of the University, but also the students who attend it. At an average enrollment of 34,000 students, upwards of 4,700 of our peers are forced to skip meals, eat less than needed, or otherwise go hungry.

From now until Nov. 30, you have the opportunity to provide a meal (or meals!) to a fellow member of the Wolfpack who would otherwise go without. Take advantage of it. And if you ever find yourself in need of resources, know that Pack Essentials, including PACK Meal Share, is available to you. Visit go.ncsu.edu/packessentials to apply.

Jess Errico is a fifth-year studying mechanical and aerospace engineering and is the student body president.