Record-breaking Social Sciences Food Drive raises over $10k

The 2024 edition of the Social Sciences Food Drive was the biggest year yet, raising over $10k and more than 1,000 pounds of food donations.
The food drive, which supports the Hamilton Food Share Program, raised $10,567.92 in funds. Through the food share program, that provides $52,839.60 of food for families in need in our community. In addition to the monetary donation, 1,210lbs of food donations were collected.
This year marks twenty years since the first annual Social Sciences Food Drive, and this year saw the most donations yet.
As per tradition, a trophy is awarded to the team or department that collects the most donations. This year, the prestigious trophy was awarded to the department of Economics, who raised $2,042.95.
Lihua Qian, academic department manager of Economics, said the team was thrilled to receive the trophy, but emphasized that the food drive showed that the McMaster campus was dedicated to supporting the Hamilton community.
“Winning the trophy felt incredibly rewarding, but it was truly a team effort. Our department has a strong culture of giving back to the community, and participating in the food drive is one of the ways we live out that value,” said Qian.
“It’s not just about winning; it’s about making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need. Each win reinforces our commitment to supporting our community and highlights the collective dedication of our team. We’re proud of our achievements, but even more so of the positive impact we can make together.”
In true Economics style, the department’s undergraduate administrative assistant, Emma Beamson, used a chart to track how much had been raised, in this case a thermometer which filled up as the donations poured in.
“This visual tool really motivated our team to contribute and reach our goal,” said Qian. “It also sparked a sense of friendly competition.”
Delia Hutchinson, academic department manager of Anthropology and the food drive organizer, paid tribute to the generosity of McMaster’s campus community.
“My heartfelt thanks to the McMaster community and especially the Department of Economics for their support as we work together to help those facing hunger in Hamilton,” said Hutchinson.
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