Student-led project turns meal plans into mission to help others

Thanksgiving is a holiday defined by heaping helpings of food. From turkey and stuffing to cranberries and pumpkin pie, the smorgasbord can feed entire families for days with leftovers.

But not everyone gets to enjoy that same bounty. In the United States, more than 1 out of 10 households face food insecurity — a fact that classmates Liz Satynska ’26 and Brian Schwenk ’24 found on their minds after a Thanksgiving feast two years ago.

“We both were fortunate enough to have turkey, with all the fixings, for days and days after the celebration,” recalled Satynska, a computer science major. “I remember standing in the overcrowded kitchen and realizing there is no reason why leftover meal swipes from campus can’t give other people the same experience.”

From there, what started as a few takeout dishes from Cavern that Satynska and Schwenk would order and deliver to the nonprofit Rescue Mission of Roanoke has grown into a full-fledged, campus-wide initiative.

Pass on Hunger is now a student-led group that works with Dining Services to make it easy for all students to donate their unused meal plan swipes at the end of each week. Donating is simple. Students just check out with the Pass on Hunger menu option in Cavern’s mobile ordering app.

During the first two months of this semester alone, 695 swipes were donated, benefiting both the Rescue Mission and Roanoke College’s RC Pantry.

The value of the proceeds from the meal swipes is given to the organizations. RC Pantry is a campus program that is open year-round to provide help for students at no cost. The Rescue Mission, a community nonprofit, serves daily meals for people who are unhoused in the region.

“I’m thrilled to see students leading the way to make a difference like this,” said Jesse Griffin, director of the Center for Civic Engagement, which runs the campus pantry. “With so many obvious needs to be filled in our world, it can be overwhelming to decide how we want to help others. With Pass on Hunger, students are able to make an immediate impact on both the lives of their fellow students and members of their local community with a simple click on their phones." 

Leadership and service are an essential part of the Roanoke experience. By championing projects like Pass on Hunger, students not only support others, but also develop valuable skills and hone their sense of purpose — all while contributing to a stronger, more connected community.

"We Maroons share a passion for serving our neighbors," Griffin said. "Pass on Hunger is another great way for us to give back!”

Satynska said she and Schwenk, who went into the Peace Corps after graduating, were inspired by the idea that students could make an impact using what they already have available to them.

“We saw an opportunity to empower students to have more control over how they use their resources while benefiting the community,” she said. “Honestly, one of the cool things about the program is it’s a simple idea that anybody could re-create. It requires minimal effort compared to the good that it does.”

Satynska, who’s now president of the Pass on Hunger student group, added one thing she’s learned from the project is that everyone can play a part in creating change — something she finds both comforting and inspiring.

“New ideas are within the grasp of anyone,” she said. “For me at least, that’s an exciting part of Pass on Hunger. We’re part of a larger, collective mission to not let resources go to waste and to try and be kind.”

The RC Pantry is open 7 days a week to serve students in need. Items available include non-perishable food, toiletries, laundry and dish soap, school supplies, and winter hats/gloves. There is no charge or restrictions on what can be taken.

Students who use the pantry are only asked to show their Maroon ID and fill out the visitor log, which helps organizers track demand. The pantry is located on the first floor of Morehead Hall. Questions can be directed to Toni Fazler at 540-375-2300 or fazler@roanoke.edu.

HOURS

• Mondays-Fridays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturdays: 2 to 6 p.m.
• Sundays: 3 to 7 p.m.

Interested in donating to RC Pantry? Donations can be brought to Morehead Hall.