Giving Hearts Day is the region’s premier 24-hour giving event. It will be celebrated on UND’s campus on February 10th. The UND Alumni Association & Foundation and partner organization, Dakota Medical Foundation have dedicated a day to supporting students by giving scholarships and providing resources to promote food security. The Alumni Association is hoping that this will lighten the financial burden of students, help them stay on track with their studies, and make the most of their student experience while being on UND’s campus. Since Giving Hearts Day’s inception in 2008, donors have generated more than $112 million for charities and nonprofits across ND and NW MN.  

The UND Alumni Association has added a new event to this year’s Giving Hearts Day schedule. This event is Hawks Fighting Hunger. This event will be held on Thursday, February 10th from 10 am to 3 pm. It will take place on the main level of the Memorial Union. This event encourages students to visit a tabling event to learn more about the importance of philanthropy while also giving students a chance to give back to the community. UND students are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item or personal hygiene product that will go to UND’s Food for Thought Food Pantry. Students will be entered for a $250 scholarship drawing for participating in this event.  

This event was created due to surveys bringing to light current information about college students and food insecurity. Currently, 40% of college students nationwide struggles with food insecurity. Food insecurity is defined as the disruption of food intake or eating patterns because of lack of money and/or other resources. The Food for Thought Pantry is located on the first floor of the Memorial Union (in room 138). This program provides nonperishable food items and personal hygiene products to all current UND students who cannot purchase/obtain these products for one reason or another. The hours of the pantry are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8am-4:30pm; Wednesday 8am-8pm; Saturday 12pm-3pm.  

Besides the Hawks Fighting Hunger drive, students are encouraged to participate in the scholarships that are given out on this day. There are scholarship funds for both the “general student” but also college-based programs. Students that are wishing to be considered for these scholarships should apply through Scholarship Central. In 2020, students received as much as $2500 that they could use toward school expenses; in 2021, students who were recipients reiterated how much the scholarship positively impacted their focus on academics instead of finances for the year. 

Giving Hearts Day is a one-day event that emphasizes “people coming together to show their support for the community.” UND Alumni Association hopes students not only apply for the scholarships that the day provides (to lighten the financial burden and stay on track academically in college), but also consider giving back to the community through the Hawks for Hunger drive.  

Dominique Menard is a Dakota Student Editor. She can be reached at [email protected].