UF Students Become Part of #HashtagLunchbag Project

On Saturday, Jan. 11, 10 UF students participated in a #HashtagLunchbag service project alongside other volunteers from Northwest Ohio.
Five members of UF’s Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) and five from the Black Student Union (BSU) met 10 other college-age volunteers at a church in Toledo where they assembled nearly 100 lunches for the homeless population.
Each participant was asked to bring a $10 donation to put toward food and supplies. UF’s Intercultural Student Services office provided each UF student with his or her donation. The UF College of Pharmacy funded the students’ transportation to and from Toledo, as well as refreshments at a service reflection session when the students returned to campus.
After the lunches were assembled, the group split into two groups of 10 and walked downtown handing out lunches. Remaining lunches were donated to two local missions in Toledo.
According to graduate assistant Robert Braylock, who organized UF’s involvement, #HashtagLunchbag is a “humanity service movement dedicated to creating fun environments to bring together diverse groups of compassionate people in local communities to focus outward and give back in local communities.”
“We’re giving back to the community,” said Braylock. “We’re fortunate enough to be in college, and I think it’s our duty to give back to other people.”
The #HashtagLunchbag project is a national grassroots effort, which began very simply in 2012 in Los Angeles. A small group of friends wanted to give something to the local homeless community. The idea was shared on social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, and it’s been picked up by groups across the country.
Students may contact Braylock at braylockr@findlay.edu to get involved.