(l-r) Megan McDougall DMD 17, Assistant Dean of Students Dr. Joseph Calabrese, Nidhi Arora AS 16, Olga Spivak AS 16, and BMC Food Pantry Manager Latchman Hiralall.
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Student Affairs and the Boston University Chapter of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) recently hosted their annual food drive benefiting the Boston Medical Center (BMC) Food Pantry and Demonstration Kitchen. For every two non-perishable food items donated by GSDM members between February 2 and 13, 2015, donors received one ticket to a Boston University Terriers Hockey Game. Donors had a choice to either see the Terriers play University of New Hampshire on Friday, February 13 or to see them play against Northeastern University on Friday, February 27. A total of 150 tickets were generously provided by the University to support this endeavor.
On Friday, March 13, GSDM students Nidhi Arora AS 16, Assistant Dean of Students Dr. Joseph Calabrese, Megan McDougall DMD 17, and Olga Spivak AS 16 delivered a total of 245 items to BMC Food Pantry Manager Latchman Hiralall.
The BMC Food Pantry and Demonstration Kitchen works to address nutrition-related illness and under-nutrition for low-income patients. Patients with special nutritional needs are referred to the Pantry by BMC primary care providers who write prescriptions for supplemental foods that promote health, prevent future illness, and facilitate recovery. The Pantry is often used by patients with cancer, HIV/AIDS, Irritable Bowel Disease, diabetes, obesity, food allergies, and other chronic conditions. On average, it provides food to 80,500 patients and their households annually.
“The outpouring of support and donations that we received from the GSDM community was outstanding,” said Dr. Calabrese. “The staff at the Pantry expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation when we dropped off the donations. Thank you to all who contributed to help those in our community who are less fortunate.”