“Flex Out Hunger” Makes Use of Left Over Hokie Passport Funds

The fraternity brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon [SAE] will host their annual philanthropy event, Flex Out Hunger, to raise funds for the needy in the New River Valley, on Virginia Tech campus from April 30 to May 2.

Flex Out Hunger [FOH] allows an easy way for individuals to put the left over funds on their Hokie Passports to good use, said this year’s FOH director, Dan Sheehan.

FOH is partnered with Student Programs to provide funds for the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program [MCEAP], which gives food and money to those in need in the New River Valley.

Anyone with money on his or her Hokie Passport can participate, said Sheehan. All you have to do is fill out a donation slip at one of the FOH booths that will be set up at all the main dinning centers on campus, except for Shultz, and then take that slip to the register of that dining hall, said Sheehan.

FOH accepts Dinning Dollars, Flex Dollars and Hokie Passport money, raising on average, between $5,000 and $15,000 every year, with the goal for this year set at $20,000, said Sheehan.

All of the money raised goes to the Virginia Tech Dinning Services and then directly to the MCEAP, said Sheehan. SAE fraternity never touches any of the money, simply keeping a record of how well the event is doing each year, said Sheehan.

SAE plans to make an addition to the FOH program this year, a canned food drive competition will be held between the Greek organizations at Virginia Tech, said Sheehan. To promote participation in the canned food drive, SAE hopes to give away iPods for the highest donors and to one lucky randomly selected donor, Sheehan said.

SAE is also working on putting the name of the highest donor on a plaque in West End, Sheehan said.

“Basically, FOH gives Tech students an opportunity to make a real difference in their community without having to leave campus,” said Sheehan. “This money is critical for MCEAP, and they count on it each year. So, VT students have the opportunity to help members of the community less fortunate than themselves, without the time constraints that inhibit many students from helping in the community.”

“Flex Out Hunger is a great program,” said Virginia Tech junior and SAE brother, Bryan Tropeano. “Each year it feels great to know that the Flex Dollars that people have already paid for can go to something worthwhile rather than just being wasted. I always feel good when we find someone who has $50 to $100 of Flex Dollars and had no idea what to do with it until they talked to us. Helping out the community, and doing things for people in need, always feels great and makes you know that you are doing something worthwhile. I hope that this year, Flex Out Hunger is as big of a hit as it has been in the past, and hopefully even more money will be donated.”