The student organization, For the Least of These, will be collecting food donations bought using students’ left over Bean Bucks during finals week.
“Rather than just using up our excess Bean Bucks to buy candy or soda, we can use them for a greater purpose,” said Julie Brinkman, sophomore vocal music education major from McKinney.
As one of the founders of For the Least of These, Brinkman said last year they were able to donate $1,700 of food, provide 100 sack lunches and help stock the shelves of Love and Care Ministries. Lunches included chips, a Chick-fil-A sandwich, a cookie and a bottle of water and were then passed out to homeless people around Abilene.
“Our Bean Bucks don’t get refunded so we might as well do something with them,” said Janessa Beach, sophomore math education major from Van Alstyne. “As college students we don’t have a lot of means financially, but especially freshmen and sophomores with meal plans, we have this opportunity to do something for the least.”
Brinkman and Beach are working with Anthony Williams, chief auxiliary services officer, to create a way in which students can swipe their Bean Bucks directly into an account that goes to the organization’s bulk purchases. Donations will be collected at a table in McGlothin Campus Center towards the end of finals week.
“If that doesn’t work out, then we will have a Facebook group where students can pledge how much money they wish to donate and then they will have a time to come to the Campus Center and buy the food that we have pre-ordered,” Brinkman said.
Beach said For the Least of These is inspired by the passage in Matthew 25 and Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats, where he encourages his followers to serve “the least of these.”
“This is something that us as ACU students don’t have to go very far out of our way to help,” Brinkman said. “We can bring glory to God and show love, especially to those who don’t always get to receive his love daily.”
Beach said this is an easy way for students to serve.
“It’s a simple concept, but a big way to help,” she said.
