UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — During Earth Week this past April, Penn State students raised more than $29,000 for the Student Emergency Fund by donating extra dining dollars from their campus meal plans.

All Penn State residential campuses participated in "Swipe Out Hunger" in conjunction with Earth Week 2021, when students had the opportunity to donate excess dining dollars on their meal plans any time they dined on campus.

Donations from University Park dining commons, HUB-Robeson Center dining locations, and Commonwealth Campuses came to a grand total of $29,502.67.

The Student Emergency Fund is a program that provides short-term financial assistance to students experiencing crisis situations through Student Care & Advocacy.

"Swipe Out Hunger," a national nonprofit committed to ending college student hunger, works with more than 130 colleges and universities nationwide to implement anti-hunger programs. The group that brought Swipe Out Hunger to Penn State includes task force subcommittee members from Housing and Food Services, Student Affairs, Challah for Hunger and Penn State Hillel, as well as students who work with the Lion's Pantry, a food pantry at University Park.