A fundraiser held by Dining Services last semester raised $500 to benefit the Community Day Center, a local homeless shelter located in Waltham, according to a December Aramark press release. The event ran throughout the month of November and involved the sale of baked goods to the campus community. According to Sarah Conduragis, the marketing manager for Dining Services who organized the fundraiser, this was the first fundraiser of its kind held by Dining Services.

With the support of campus organizations including the Waltham Group, Student Union and Hillel, 312 pies and loaves of bread were sold. One dollar from each purchase was donated to the Community Day Center. The baked goods were all freshly baked at Brandeis in the campus bakery.

In addition to the money raised from the sale of the baked goods, Dining Services then donated money to bring the total to an even $500. Conduragis called the extra money added by Dining Services a "thank you" to those at Brandeis who supported the fundraiser.

"In past years, we have coordinated an annual Thanksgiving pie sale, ... but this year we decided to put a charitable twist on it in an effort to increase campus support to build on existing community relationships," wrote Conduragis in an e-mail to the Justice.

Operating out of the basement of a local church, the Community Day Center now averages about 50 guests daily.

Marilyn Lee-Tom, executive director of the Community Day Center, expressed in an interview with the Justice the importance of fundraisers like the one held by Dining Services.

"It is critical, especially during the harsh winter, to have a place for homeless people to stop in." said Lee-Tom.

She added, "The majority of the funding we have is through private donors, so we constantly rely on these types of donations."

Students, faculty and staff were able to preorder baked goods and to pay with various forms of payment, including Dining Dollars, WhoCash and points, a fact that Conduragis believes very was helpful for increasing participation.

According to a Brandeis press release, the money raised by this fundraiser will help the Community Day Center fund important programs and services that they provide to their guests, including job assistance and health and legal access.

Several Dining Services Managers presented the $500 check to the Community Day Center at the homeless shelter's annual holiday celebration in front of its Board of Directors and major donors.

"It was so energizing to see the enthusiasm and participation of the various student groups and the Brandeis community come together to support the cause," wrote Conduragis.

The next charitable event planned by Dining Services will be to team up with the Brandeis Be Our Guest Group to help provide meals donated by students to local homeless shelters.