Student founded non-profit holds a fundraiser to feed the needy
The non-profit organization People Helping Everyone Eat Daily held a fundraiser Tuesday, June 16 in order to raise money and spread awareness of its cause.
The event was held at the Wendy’s restaurant on Walton Boulevard near Livernois in Rochester. Fifteen percent of the proceeds earned between 5 and 8 p.m. was donated to PHEED.
PHEED was originally founded at Oakland University by two students, Joel Baetens and Stefanie Bair, and has since grown into a non-profit organization.
The organization seeks to provide food for the community by donating excess food from college campuses and businesses to those in need, said Bair, the vice president of the organization.
Baetens and Bair are currently working on involving more college campuses in the organization, including Wayne State University and Grand Valley State University, and hope to have similar programs up and running on these campuses by August, said Bair.
“We’re hoping to implement this program at as many campuses and businesses as we can,” said Bair.
Tuesday’s event was meant to facilitate funds as well as bring attention to the group’s goals.
“Doing events like this, we can reach everyone,” Bair said.
Baetens, PHEED’s president, added that as a non-profit organization, everything is out of pocket and events such as these help to pay for startup costs.
He also spoke of his desire for everyone to do their part.
“One person can’t change the whole world, but you can change the world around you,” said Baetens.