Virginia Tech Dining embraces giving spirit at holiday meals
Virginia Tech’s Dining Services and the Division of Student Affairs are organizing a drive for toys, coats, and non-perishable foods in conjunction with the ‘Tis the Season holiday meals at D2 dining center and Shultz Dining Center.
Students, faculty, staff, and the public are encouraged to donate items and to attend one of the meals on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 4:30-7 p.m. at D2 dining center and from 5-7 p.m. at Shultz Dining Center.
The meals will feature buffet-style dining including traditional holiday fare as well as locally grown, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. The cost is $4.85 with a Flex Plan, and $14.55 with Dining Dollars, a Hokie Passport Account, or cash.
Donations will be accepted during the meals, or can be left in drop boxes at various sites across campus. The drop boxes will be collected by Tuesday, Dec. 6. All items collected from the boxes and the meals will be distributed to Montgomery County Emergency Services, the Roanoke Rescue Mission, and Toys for Tots.
April Danner, operations manager at Dietrick Dining Center, said she believes the ‘Tis the Season theme is the perfect starting point for what she hopes will be the first of many fruitful holiday meal drives.
“It’s open ended — ‘tis the season to be charitable, ‘tis the season to have a good time, ‘tis the season to have a good meal,” she said. “And due to the circumstances economically, there are more residents, more people in need. It’s perfect timing.”
The drop boxes are located in Dietrick Dining Center; Shultz Dining Center; Owens Food Court; Squires Food Court; West End Market; Au Bon Pain in the Graduate Life Center; the Fraternity and Sorority Life and Housing and Residence Life offices in New Hall West; and the area offices of Newman, Peddrew-Yates, and East Ambler Johnston residence halls.
“The Virginia Tech community is global, and this whole world is full of Hokies fans and supporters,” Danner said. “So, if each person goes out as a representative and brings back a box load, can you imagine how much we could get and how much good we could do?”
Dietrick Dining Center’s Assistant Director Kelvin Bergsten agreed, saying the holiday meal is the ideal event to promote Virginia Tech’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).
“I’m hoping we can use this as the groundwork to celebrate Ut Prosim and see what we can do to serve the community,” he said. “It’s nice to have a big event to kick it off with, but it’s also nice to give back to the community and see what kind of difference we can make.”
Both Danner and Bergsten said they are hoping for a large haul from the drive, one large enough to fill the flex areas at D2 so people can see how much individual contributions ultimately count.
“The students here are such a giving community,” Danner said. “All you have to do is ask.”
With a visitor’s pass, parking for D2 is available from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Coliseum Lot, Engel Lot, and the Ag Quad Lot. A visitor’s pass may be obtained Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Visitor’s Information Center, located at 965 Prices Fork Road, near the intersection of Prices Fork and University City Boulevard next to the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. A visitor’s pass may also be obtained from the Virginia Tech Police Station, located on Sterrett Drive, outside of the Visitor Information Center hours.
After 5 p.m., free parking for D2 is available in the Coliseum Lot and the Ag Quad Lot. After 5:30 p.m., free parking is available in the Engel Lot.
Free parking is available for Shultz after 5 p.m. in the Squires Lot, located at the corner of College Avenue and Otey Street or the Architecture Annex Lot also on Otey Street.
Find more parking information online or call 540-231-3200.
Written by Jennifer Gibson.
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