UNMPIRG is asking for monetary donations to give to an Albuquerque food bank.
The program, called Spare Change for Social Change, began this fall and has raised more than $400 for Project Share.
The food bank is a New Mexico-based nonprofit and provides meals to about 145,000 people each year, said Patsy Kelton-Born, executive director of Project Share.
UNMPIRG president Sean Debuck said Spare Change for Social Change is one of the most important things his organization is doing this semester.
Havah Johnson, UNMPIRG's research and outreach coordinator for hunger and homelessness, said nonprofit organizations like Project Share are of the utmost importance in New Mexico.
"New Mexico is one of the poorest states in the country," Johnson said. "We really try to help out with hunger and homelessness in our chapter, and I think that's why our soup kitchens are really important."
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At its most recent fundraising event, the nonpartisan group attracted passersby with a root beer pong competition. Debuck said using unconventional methods to attract support distinguishes UNMPIRG from other organizations.
Debuck said UNMPIRG raised $64 for Project Share with the root beer pong game.
"We're always taking money for Project Share," he said. "We raise all this money. We buy a bunch of food, and we go down to Project Share. We prepare it and serve it to basically whoever comes."
Kelton-Born said cash and food donations are becoming more and more important for her organization.
"We've seen an increase in our costs this year, and we've seen an increase in the numbers of people needing our services, all at the same time," Kelton-Born said.
Last year, Project Share served about 1,200 children, and this year, about 3,200 children have been served, she said.
Project Share gets help not only with cash and food donations but also with food preparation and clean up.
Kelton-Born said Project Share employees prepare food four nights out of the month but that the rest of the month is covered by volunteers.
"I've run many nonprofit programs all over New Mexico for over 40 years, but this program restores your faith in mankind, because everybody all over Albuquerque has been coming here for 25 years, all different groups, to help their fellow New Mexicans," she said.
Debuck said helping organizations like Project Share is one of the main ambitions of UNMPIRG this year.
"Our whole campaign is all about working to find aid and solutions to the needier class of people in New Mexico, and that's what Project Share is about."
