The Sodexo Foundation has awarded Hastings College’s Food 4 Thought Backpack program, in partnership with Hastings’ Open Table, a three-year grant totaling $4,500 to support the program’s efforts to help feed Hastings Public Elementary School students and their families.

Hastings College Sodexo General Manager Tony Shepard presented the first installment of $2,000 to Open Table’s Tom Schick and Food 4 Thought student president Bailey Eldredge, Albuquerque, N.M., on Dec. 6.

The Hastings College Food 4 Thought program sends out nearly 50 backpacks filled with food that feeds more than 120 children in the community each weekend. The program serves Lincoln, Longfellow, Alcott and Morton elementary schools and runs entirely off donations and grant monies received.

The Hastings College Food 4 Thought program received the Student Commendation in Service Learning from the Midwest Consortium of Service Learning in Higher Education and was recognized as the Nebraska Outstanding Community Service Project of 2008 by Sally Ganem, wife of Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman.

Hastings College, founded in 1882, is a private, four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). A total of 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs are offered to more than 1,190 students. Hastings College was named among “America’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report, a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review, and a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s. Visit www.hastings.edu for more information.

For more information, contact Amber Medina at (402) 461-7757 or amedina@hastings.edu.