With the holiday season well under way, thoughts of family, home and gift-buying fill the heads of many Alachua County residents.
However, for about 18 percent of local residents, not much fills their bellies.
Today the Center for Leadership and Service and a class-organized group called The 15 Percent are hosting a canned food drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Reitz Union Colonnade.
About 18 percent of Alachua County residents are food insecure, meaning they don't know when their next meal will be. The group's name is inspired by the national statistic: In the U.S., about 15 percent of people are food insecure.
Second-year journalism graduate student Rachel Sale, 24, is a strategic planner for The 15 Percent.
She said students often overlook poverty and food insecurities, and the event aims to raise awareness about these issues.
"It's not just about a one-time donation, although we appreciate all that we get," Sale said. "We want to see more students volunteer their time to help this cause."
Beth Nahlik, assistant director of the Center for Leadership and Service, said the food drive will be "mutually beneficial" to students who participate.
"Poverty happens in our own backyard," Nahlik said. "We're giving these students a chance to take action and be part of a solution."
All canned food and money donated at the event will be given to the Alachua County Public Schools Winter Break Food Drive. The 15 Percent's goal is to help at least 50 families.
