On April 17, an estimated 70 or more Oberlin students will participate in Oberlin’s first annual Hunger Cleanup. The event is being organized by OPIRG’s Hunger and Homelessness Campaign and the Center for Service and Learning.

The Hunger Cleanup, a national event organized by the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, was created in the 1980s by college students because of a growing awareness of world-wide hunger and homelessness. It is now celebrating its 20th year. One of the largest one-day service events in the country, the Hunger Cleanup has involved over 8,000 students over the years and raised over 1.5 million dollars to combat hunger and homelessness.

The Hunger Cleanup aims to provide a stimulus for community volunteerism, and to raise money through sponsorship of the volunteers. Organizer Nathan Resnick explained why he thought it valuable: “When you think about making a difference, money is good, but it and community service ultimately come down to the same thing. They’re two different but equally effective ways of meeting community service needs.”

The proceeds from Saturday’s cleanup will be split evenly between local and national programs. The money that stays local will go toward OPIRG’s goal of meeting the increased need that the Oberlin community expressed for the 2004 year. The group has already raised $2000 through the on-campus Hunger Fast which it organized in March. Resnick hopes that the Hunger Cleanup will bring them even closer to their goal.

Students have the option of volunteering from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. or from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Students will meet at Wilder from 9 p.m.or 1 p.m., where they will travel by bus, by car, or by foot to various parts of Lorain County. Volunteers may choose, among other things, to clean the kitchen at Oberlin Hot Meals, pick up litter for Lorain County Metro Parks, help plant a garden for Oberlin Community Services or chip in at the George Jones Farm.