News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION:

May 10, 2008 Maggie Callery

Potluck in the Park Chairman

208-305-7828

mcallery@uoregon.edu

APO hosts park picnic for homeless

Alpha Phi Omega will host a buffet-style meal for homeless and low-income citizens on May 18 in Alton Baker Park. The annual event, Potluck in the Park, will also feature an arts and crafts area, music and giveaway bags for attendees.

Potluck in the Park begins at noon and lasts until 5 p.m. APO expects to serve hot food to about 200 people.

“The Eugene community is kind of separated,” said Maggie Callery, the APO Chairman for Potluck in the Park. “There’s this barrier there that’s really hard to break. It gives a chance for us to interact with the homeless.”

APO is a student-run, service-based organization that works to help the community through creating social awareness and working with local non-profit organizations.

APO relies on donations from locally owned companies in the form of food, clothing, toiletries and money to supply Potluck in the Park.

In addition to donating food and utensils, Food for Lane County promotes and advertises Potluck in the Park to the homeless community.

The hot meal will consist mostly of hamburgers, hot dogs, salad and fruit. APO tries to collect a variety of food for the homeless, said Callery.

“People tend to think that the homeless will eat anything,” said Callery. “They have tastes too.”

In addition to cooking and serving food, APO will be providing give-away bags filled with non-perishables food items, like canned soups, beans and pasta. St. Vincent de Paul donated clothing for the 200 giveaway bags. Each attendee will receive shirts or pants with the bags, based upon the sizes and availability.

Bingo games and a cakewalk are scheduled for attendees to participate in, with winners receiving blankets as prizes. APO is also planning activities like croquet and soccer for adults and an arts and crafts center catered to kids.

“It’s a social event as well,” said Callery. “That’s another aspect we want to bring out of the event.”

More than 30 APO members will attend the event to serve food, manage the giveaway bags and participate in the activities.

“I get what I call the ‘natural service high.’ I get really excited to get out there for more service projects,” said Callery.

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