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Thursday, March 3, 2016
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Feed’em Soup needs $35K Alexander Chettiath News Editor
DeKalb | Feed’em Soup Community Project is searching for $35,000 in funds and donations to reduce the possibility of closure. Feed’em Soup, 251 E. Lincoln Highway, offers buffet-style food services free of charge to the public. It also hosts a pop-up food pantry that provides fresh produce and breads throughout the week, according to its website. About 54 percent of Feed’em Soup’s operating budget was cut when Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity discontinued its meal plan services which grossed Feed’em Soup Community Project about $70,000 of its $130,000 budget. Phi Sigma Kappa had been receiving services for the last 2.5 years. The bare minimum to keep Feed’em Soup’s doors open is $70,000 and its anticipated income is $35,000. “Right now we just struggle with funding,” said Joshua Akers, co-founder and vice president of Feed’em Soup Community Project. “We generate revenue by providing services like catering, fund raisers, corporate grants and private donations. The problem is we didn’t have a contingency plan on what was going to happen after we weren’t going to be able to cater.” Akers said the operating budget includes, rent, utilities, food costs and any other costs associated with services. Derek Gibbs, executive director of Feed’em Soup Community Project, is the only paid employee. The services rely on 5-10 volunteers per service to assist in food production and serving. The project began two meal services a month and currently does one service a week, feeding about 50 people at each service, Akers said. Volunteer Coordinator Noelle Stanbery said she came to the first service, six years ago, with her late husband. She and her husband found a flier and decided to check it out because they were low on funds and didn’t have much food at home. “I’ve been hungry, I’ve been to
DeKalb | The Human Relations Commission passed a motion to formally suggest the City Council withdraw the proposed ordinances regarding unlawful assemblies from consideration. The original ordinances describe what actions and characteristics define an unlawful assembly and listed 21 occurrences in which a 10-person or more assembly can become unlawful which included: assault, battery, criminal damage to property, unlawful use of alcohol, cannabis or a controlled substance and mob action. The ordinances were sent to the Human Relations Commission after more than 30 DeKalb citizens and NIU students attended a Jan. 25 City Council meeting to voice concerns. Chief Diversity Officer Vernese Edghill-Walden said she believes the commission’s suggestions were necessary.
Program task force open for students Alexander Chettiath News Editor
Andy Cozzi | Northern Star
Floyde Wright, DeKalb resident of 45 years, eats a meal at Feed’em Soup Community Project on Wednesday. Wright has been going to the community project all six years it has been open. Feed’em Soup, 251 E. Lincoln Highway, needs $35,000 in funds and donations to reduce the possibility of closure.
Donate To donate to Feed’em Soup Community Project, go to bit.ly/1oQrXuI. soup kitchens, I’ve been homeless, and this is my way of paying back and helping those that need help,” Stanbery said. Stanbery said she and her husband started volunteering after the first service and she has been there ever since. Feed’em Soup is currently trying Andy Cozzi | Northern Star to reach out to other organizations Arcade gaming systems are being sold off in an effort to bring more funds to to partner and coordinate to raise Feed’em Soup Community Project. Feed’em Soup originally had the games for funds, Akers said. children’s birthday parties.
Commission looks to end ordinance Madison Kacer Staff writer
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“[The process] allowed for us as a community to come together and develop something that we have had the ability to provide some feedback and some discussion on,” said Edghill-Walden at a Human Relations Commission meeting Tuesday which was attended by eight community members.
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I think this motion is hearing what the community has felt, but also respects Madison Kacer | Northern Star our city staff and [police] Human Relations Commissioners Lisa King (left) and Larry Apperson discuss the ordinances regarding unlawful assemblies during a Feb. 18 Human Relations chief.” Larry Apperson Human Relations Commission chair
The motion to suggest a withdraw from consideration was due to numerous commissioner and community member concerns, including the ability of current city codes in addressing the issues in the proposed
Commission meeting.
ordinances and an unnecessary focus on targeting students. Commissioners also passed a motion that requires inclusion of an expression of gratitude toward community members and city officials, particularly the police, in the document. The suggestion to withdraw
consideration was supported by DeKalb Police Chief Gene Lowery, who was one of the original supporters of the ordinances. “I think this motion is hearing what the community has felt, but also respects our city staff and [police] chief,” said Larry Apperson, Human Relations Commission chair.
DeKalb | More than 50 students have applied for the volunteer program prioritization student task forces with the application going live Monday. Program prioritization, which began in 2014, uses task forces to create reports that review 223 academic programs and 236 administrative programs to influence the allocation of university funds, according to the program prioritization website. “[The] students are very diverse in nature coming from all different types of organizations, different resource centers, various academic levels,” said SA Senate Speaker Dillon Domke. “We have freshman all the way through final-year doctoral students wishing to be a part of this.” Applications for the program prioritization student task forces are Dillon Domke available on Student Association Senate the program Speaker prioritization website until 5 p.m. March 11, according to a SA news release. Program reports were completed on Dec. 11, and must be graded by April 30. After reports are graded, the student task forces will review them for the final two weeks of the semester. There will be an academic task force and an administrative task force that will each have a total of ten students including a task force chair. “This student task force is going to evaluate different programs,” Domke said. ”There are what we call five buckets that a program can be put into. From [a program that] should receive more funding and resources to ... [removing] this program entirely.” Applicants will be selected by the SA special committee and announced upon return from spring break. Members will undergo training led by members of the program prioritization coordinating committee. “We don’t know yet how long it will be, we think maybe once a week for a few weeks at about an hour per session,” Domke said. “We don’t expect them to be program efficiency experts, this just gets them caught up and gives them an understanding of what they are working with.” The selection process will be guided by the requirements used for membership of the SA.
To apply For more information or to apply for the volunteer program prioritization student task force, go to bit.ly/1WPzbtV.