SWIPES Make A Difference, a program that allows students to donate food and non-perishable items to various charitable organizations in Columbia, is preparing to adjust to the campus-wide switch from weekly meal points to a block, or semester, plan.

The Missouri Students Association’s Multicultural Issues Committee is in charge of the program, which has distributed items to local charities such as the Ronald McDonald House, Granny’s House, Intersections and Rainbow House since its inception in 2008. In some cases, the food goes toward various after-school programs that each specific organization or charity handles.

Through SWIPES, students are able to use points on their meal plans to donate to the non-profit organization that the program is sponsoring.

“Students can go into the Emporium at Plaza 900 or the Time Out at the Dobbs Dining Hall, use their meal card to purchase non-perishable snacks, food items and beverages, then bring those items right outside to the donation locations where the goods will be sorted,” MCI Chairwoman Lakeisha Williams said. “At the end of the day all of the donations are taken to the chosen organization.” 

The first SWIPES donation event of the school year is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 24 and will benefit Granny’s House. Any judgment on how effective the program will continue to be will come after this date.

As of now, it is unknown how SWIPES will transition from weekly points to semester block points.

“Students are purchasing fewer meals and snacks in the residential takeout locations now that meals reset each semester, rather than each week,” Campus Dining Services Director Julaine Kiehn said. “I am unsure how the SWIPES program will be affected.”

MIC member Caitlin Hanson said the organization plans on holding SWIPES more than once a semester and at least once by the end of each semester, despite the new block plan.

“As the Multicultural Issues Committee, we feel a duty to help not only the different cultures on campus but also within the community,” Hanson said. “The committee is working hard toward branding SWIPES as an event that other organizations at Mizzou can take part of on their own time.”

Hanson assured that SWIPES is here to stay.

“Regardless of any changes in campus dining plans, SWIPES will definitely remain a functioning program on campus,” he said.

Williams said she also believes the program will continue to operate at MU as long as students support the concept and believe in the cause.