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Serving rice, beans for world poverty
New group builds funds
By: SARA GOODMAN
Posted: 12/2/08
A new University organization hopes to eliminate global poverty by serving up an all-you-can-eat lunch to hungry students.
Nourish International, a nonprofit group which raises money to fund service projects in poverty-stricken nations, serves up a "Hunger Lunch" every Wednesday at Tate.
"It's an educational value with really good food that raises money and awareness," said Kirk Carter, co-founder of the newly-founded University chapter.
The lunch features Five Star Day's red beans, rice and cornbread for the price of $3. In addition, the group offers to-go boxes for students in a rush.
"For the same price as a chicken sandwich, you can get all-you-can eat," said repeat customer Chris Earl, a sophomore English major from Dallas.ALL YOU CAN EAT
RICE & BEANS
When: Wednesday until 2 p.m.
Where: Tate Plaza
Price: $3
More information: Contact uga.
director@nourishinternational.org.
Likewise, the food items selected represent the staple diet for the millions of people in developing countries throughout the globe.
"It started with one person who wanted to make a difference," said Dev Cheti, whose cousin began the founding chapter at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 2003.
Cheti and Carter, both juniors, started the group at the University earlier this year. Nourishment International UGA is one of 23 participating chapters across the nation. Other chapters are at Yale and Princeton.
For its service project, Nourish International UGA plans to travel to Ecuador or Costa Rica this summer and perform a community project.
In Costa Rica, the team will focus on a computer outreach program for locals.
"They just got Wi-Fi, yet they don't understand how to fully use it," Carter said.
The group has raised approximately $900 with the Hunger Lunch throughout the fall semester - potential service projects have an estimated cost of $5,000.
"In order to get us to the total, we are looking to start a concert and a poker tournament, called Hold 'Em for Hunger," Carter said.
The group's last Hunger Lunch of the semester will be Wednesday at Tate Plaza. They plan to bring the rice and beans back in the spring.
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