Boston U. Hike for Hunger: Spare Change mag, others benefit FWD
Tom Boland (wgcp@earthlink.net)
Fri, 30 Oct 1998 03:37:07 -0400
FWD http://www.usatoday.com/uwire/thu/environment102298000.htm
BOSTON U. STUDENTS FO THE DISTANCE FOR HOMELESS
Boston U. students go the distance for homeless
By Derek Gee
The Daily Free Press (Boston U.)
10/22/98
(U-WIRE) BOSTON, Mass. -- At 6:30 a.m. Saturday,
the lights flipped on and the alarm rang-- mooed, to
be precise.
About 25 Boston University students poked their
heads from sleeping bags in the basement of Marsh
Chapel, sipped hot cocoa and laced their sneakers.
It's a long walk to Worcester.
Some tossed their gear into three vans waiting
behind the chapel. Others kicked a soccer ball on the
dewed grass of BU Beach. But as the morning light
grew stronger, they joined another 26 students on
the chipped tiles of Marsh Plaza and set off on their
35-mile trek to raise money for the hungry and the
homeless.
They arrived in Worcester about 36 hours later.
Some limped from blisters.
"It was an amazing experience," said College of
Communication sophomore Erin McVeigh, an
organizer of the walk. "I feel like I made a real
difference."
After a short, enthusiastic meeting on Marsh Plaza,
the students paraded past BU, down Brighton Avenue
and into the western suburbs. They followed
two-lane Route 20 for most of the way to
Framingham, where they lodged for the night at
Grace Church. Some students took a shuttle back to
BU Saturday night so they could shower before
finishing the walk.
BU's chapter of the Heifer Project International--
hence the mooing alarm clock-- oversaw
arrangements for the sixth annual Hike for Hunger.
The organization, based in Rutland about 15 miles
northwest of Worcester, raises livestock, which it
donates to impoverished families around the country
and the world, said organizer Evonne Noble, a
College of Arts and Sciences junior.
This year's hike is expected to generate about
$8,000 once donations are tallied. About half of that
money has already been collected, Noble said. To
enter the hike, each student raised at least $100.
Proceeds benefit the Heifer Project, Spare Change--
a newspaper written, published and sold by Boston's
homeless-- and the BU Student Food Rescue.
"That's kind of a lot of money for one group at one
university to make," McVeigh said. "It's good to know
the money is going to solid organizations who will
put it to good use."
BU medical school student Marc Lepore founded the
hike six years ago. He and three others walked to the
Heifer Project's Rutland headquarters, Overlook
Farm, and raised $600 in the process.
This year's donations will help buy more livestock
for the Heifer Project and new office equipment for
Spare Change, Noble said, and will keep the Student
Food Rescue van full of gas.
Motorists along the route honked to support the
students. Many mooed back in response. College of
Communication sophomore Dan Pascucci even donned
a cow costume to celebrate the Heifer Project.
"I am the heifer," he said.
Homeless activist Erik Lehmann, who was homeless
when he was 17, joined the event this year.
"Students are where it starts," Lehmann said. "If you
can start the energy flowing here, there is no telling
what these kids can do.
END FORWARD
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