By: Riley Eike
Staff Writer
Embrace It Africa (EIA) held the second annual Hunger Walk Sunday, April 26.
The event, held on St. Bonaventure’s campus, raised $2500 for Bethlehem Parents School and Orphanage in Uganda.
EIA is a nonprofit organization that was started by students from St. Bonaventure University. The team is focused on sustainable economic development in the small village of Bethlehem in Southern Uganda, Africa.
“The money raised at the walk is going to go towards buying more food in bulk for the orphanage and also supporting some of the farms in the area that produce food for the school,” Zach Rodriguez said.
The farms in the area grow food for the orphanage and grow cash crops to sell to get more money for the orphanage, Rodriguez, a student studying for his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) as well as the one of the club’s founders and the current advisor, said.
Seventy-two participants registered for the event. The cost of admission to the event was $20 for community members, $15 for Bonaventure students and $10 for kids 10 years old and under, Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez joined eight other EIA members in the planning of the event and joined the club members and five Kohl’s workers to run the event.
Kohl’s is a chain department store with a location in Olean, New York.
“Five Kohl’s workers showed up that morning, and said ‘We’re from Kohl’s, and we’re ready to help,’” said Rodriguez. If five Kohl’s workers participate in a charity event they will donate $500 to the charity, Rodriguez said.
EIA partnered with Washington West Elementary to raise money for Uganda. The elementary school raised $600 to donate alongside the $2500 from the race, Rodriguez said.
The race ran along the St. Bonaventure loop of the Allegheny River Valley Trail, starting in front of Shay residence hall and ending at the west entrance.
EIA is holding an event called “Art For The Heart” on June 11 in The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. For the event, elementary students in the area create artwork and then community members have a silent auction. The proceeds are sent to Uganda, Rodriguez said.
“As much as our productivity depends on the services we are offering people in Uganda, we also have to make sure what we are offering here for students to volunteer is engaging and that they get something out of the experience,” Rodriguez said.
