HWS News
18 November 2025 Hearty Meals, Warm Hearts
HWS community gives back this season.
To support local Geneva families during the holiday season, HWS Student Government launched the Hearty Meals in a Bag campaign. The effort was held in collaboration with the Food Recovery Network, the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
The campaign raised more than $1,100 to purchase supplies for the meal kits, reflecting the generosity and spirit of the HWS community, says HWS Student Government President Emily Gorczynski ’26.
“With recent struggles with food assistance programs and the upcoming holiday season, HWS Student Government decided that what better time than now to jump into the collective effort. It has truly brought me both joy and hope to see our campus come together and give back to the entire Geneva community,” says Gorczynski.
Throughout last week, the groups collected non-perishable food items and monetary donations to create ready-to-cook meal bags that will stock blessing boxes, sharing sheds, and little free farmstands across Geneva. Each bag included ingredients for nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals designed to help families during the holidays.
Donation locations were at:
- The Adams Intercultural Center
- The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- The Great Dining Hall of Saga front desk
- The Smith Opera House during Kinetic Dance Concert
Community members were also invited to help assemble the meal bags on Monday, Nov. 17 in Bartlett Theatre, Coxe Hall. Students, faculty, staff and Geneva residents worked together to prepare the donations for distribution throughout the community.
Those wanting to continue to give back to the Geneva community should reach out to Geneva Community Projects or BluePrint Geneva.
Top: Students pose with a check after bagging meals inside Bartlett Theatre.
