Dining Services' first 'Race Against Hunger' raises $1K for The Cupboard

Published 04.18.2024

Photos by Matt Deane, student photographer, and Noelle B. Bloom, assistant director of dining services, unless credited

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The Derby-themed menu: On left, the “Kentucky Hot Brown”: an open-face turkey sandwich with bacon and Morray sauce (a cream sauce with grated cheese). On right: Savory side dishes: dill potato salad and deviled eggs. Photos by Noelle B. Bloom, assistant director of dining services.

The Penn College community raised more than $1,000 for The Cupboard during Dining Services’ first Race Against Hunger.

Held in CC Commons, the fundraiser played off the fun of the upcoming Kentucky Derby, with a menu that featured “Kentucky Hot Brown” sandwiches (originated at Louisville’s Brown Hotel), dill potato salad, deviled eggs, mint julep mocktails and turtle brownies.

During the event, anyone who made a donation to The Cupboard or purchased one of the Kentucky Derby-themed meals received tickets. They then “bet” on their favorite “horses” (playfully named after Penn College employees) by dropping tickets into a horse’s bag.

At the end of the event, three winning horses and two runners up were chosen at random. From those horses’ bags, Dining Services staff drew tickets. The lucky ticket holders won prizes that included rose floral arrangements designed and donated by The Art of Floral Design class, Kentucky bourbon balls, and $5 Sheetz gift cards.

The competitors:
#1 – Need for Speed Reed (randomly selected third-place winner)
#2 – Lost in the Woods
#3 – Setting the Pace
#4 – Flying Flynn
#5 – Let it Ride Leo
#6 – Mackey Mack Attack (randomly selected second-place winner)
#7 – Non-Stopper (randomly selected first runner-up)
#8 – Grooving Grove
#9 – Wendie for the Win (randomly selected first-place winner)
#10 – Lightning McLean (randomly selected second runner-up)

The Cupboard is the on-campus food pantry for Penn College students facing food insecurity.

Dining Services expects the event to become a tradition as The Cupboard’s annual spring fundraiser.

Dining Services’ CC Commons team, ready to kick off the Race Against Hunger (and simultaneously supporting the college’s Yellow it Out campaign for suicide prevention). Photo by Amy S. Lingg, dining services marketing and systems specialist
Andrea N. Breon, dining services assistant manager, provides helpful direction to Summer L. Bukeavich, associate professor of business administration/management and marketing.
Brenda M. Kline, office assistant to counseling services, poses in the “selfie station” with items for donation.
A floral arrangement, courtesy of students in The Art of Floral Design, harkens the Kentucky Derby, known as the “Run for the Roses” thanks to the floral garland placed around the winning horse’s neck.
Celebrating at the selfie station with their mint julep mocktails are (from left): Laura M. Machak, coordinator of secondary partnership operations; Katie C. Burke, veteran services specialist; Chet Beaver, assistant director of student advocacy for veteran/military; Kyle W. Kern, coordinator of student success; and Chuck D. Crews Jr., assistant director of secondary partnerships.
Crews tastes the mint julep mocktail.
A few of the “horses” lined up for the race.
President Michael J. Reed encourages votes for his favorite: Need for Speed Reed.
Crews looks over the “horses.”
Kern and Beaver fill out their tickets.
Donations to The Cupboard
Kentucky bourbon balls await a winner.
Mattie L. Pulizzi (left), manager of employee engagement, and Jess M. Boyd, people and culture generalist, join the fun.
Roses for the winning horse, “Wendie for the Win.” Photo by Wendie L. Snyder, director of College Health Services.
Judi L. Barr, senior accountant, and husband Eric playfully pose at the selfie station. Barr “bet” on the second-place horse and took home a bouquet of roses.