Bowie businesses, BSU students donate food to area organizations

Students in Free Enterprise is an international nonprofit organization for business students.

Bob Thompson, owner of Old Bowie Town Grille, said the restaurant will give a percentage of its overall food sales to the effort tonight. Also tonight, the grill’s weekly talent show will feature musical acts of students from Bowie State.

Food donation boxes have also been placed in the restaurant for patrons who want to drop off items to donate, Thompson said.

Thompson said he hopes to partner with the university again in the future.

‘‘They have an excellent school there, and they have a lot to offer the community. And I think we can make [the food drive] a big success,” Thompson said.

At T.J. Elliott’s, owner James Marcos said the restaurant will schedule a night to donate 10 percent of its proceeds to the Stamp Out Hunger campaign. He also plans to have a contest for any Bowie State student who eats at the restaurant that night to win prizes, including $100 worth of free pizza.

‘‘I think it’s a great cause I hope to see [the students] work hand-in-hand with the Bowie pantry. I think they could help each other,” Marcos said.

Kim Wiemann, director of the Bowie food pantry, said she appreciates the much-needed donations of food. The food pantry has seen an increase in the number of people needing its services as the economy has declined in recent months, and Wiemann said the food pantry added 18 additional clients in February.

‘‘Unfortunately with the economy the way it’s going and will continue to be going, I think we’re going to see our numbers even increase,” Wiemann said.

Wiemann said this is the first time the pantry has partnered with Bowie State, and she hopes to work with them on future projects, such as possibly recruiting students to mentor pantry clients who are trying to earn their GED’s.

Jenelle Andrews, a junior at Bowie State and vice president of promotions for SIFE, said the project is part of a national campaign sponsored by Campbell’s. Although the competition deadline is at the end of March, Andrews said the students intend to continue accepting donations of food and funds through the end of the fall semester.

‘‘There’s a lot of people in this area, within the metro area, that go without food every day. So we thought it would be a good awareness project for us to take part in,” Andrews said.

E-mail Megan King at mking@gazette.net.