This semesters Cause Dinner, hosted by Tufts University Dining Services, is scheduled to be held in Dewick-MacPhie and Carmichael Dining Halls on Tuesday night.
Money raised through the dinner will benefit Tufts chapter of the DREAM program, a student group designed to provide support and mentorship for students in underprivileged communities through in-class tutoring sessions, according to Tufts Community Union Senate Services Committee co-Chair Janna Karatas.
They work with children in low-income communities, Karatas, a sophomore, said. This is a salient need in any large city, and one that is well addressed by members of the Tufts community.
An event dating back to the 1970s, the Cause Dinner will allow students to donate $2.80 of their meal value upon swiping in at the dining halls, Senate Services Committee co-Chair Christie Maciejewski said. Contributions can also be made through JumboCash.
Maciejewski explained that the Services Committee, which works closely with Dining Services, reviewed over a dozen applications before selecting the winner.
We had lots of discussion and debate for each [candidate], Maciejewski, a senior, said. There were no easy eliminations.
Chelsea Newman, co-chair of Tufts DREAM chapter, said that the DREAM program was initially founded in Vermont but has since expanded to other regions, including the greater Boston area. The organization took root at Tufts in 2011 and is paired with the Somerville Housing Authority.
Newman, a sophomore, explained that students involved in the program break into small volunteer groups and meet with kids every Friday.
One of the main objectives we have is to provide kids in our one-on-one lessons with a steady sort of mentorship, she said.
Newman said that the money raised during the Cause Dinner which Maciejewski estimated would be between $2,000 and $3,000 will be used to facilitate DREAM activities throughout the school year.
Its a fairly new group, so we felt it was a great way to get them publicity and to help their cause, Maciejewski said.
A large portion of the funds, Maciejewski said, will also finance a special event that the DREAM chapter holds at the end of the program. The event could be a class field trip to the Franklin Park Zoo, which the group did last year, Newman said.
She added that since this opportunity is not usually affordable for students of low-income backgrounds, the ability to sponsor and organize such an experience for them is especially meaningful.
It gives kids the chance to do things they normally wouldnt be able to do, Newman said. We aim to broaden their horizons every week, but the culminating experience is the big trip, which makes it really valuable.
Karatas applauded the tradition of the Cause Dinner and encouraged students to participate.
The Cause Dinner is a ... unique aspect of Tufts that we have where were able to connect different parts of the Tufts community, like clubs and Dining Services, she said. I think this is a very small but significant and tangible way for the average student to give back to their community.
Karatas also expressed hope that other student organizations, including those that were not selected, will continue to apply in years to come.
We encourage all groups to keep applying in future semesters, Karatas said. All of the causes we saw were really meaningful.
