UW-Eau Claire’s Hilltop Center sent its workers home and brought in volunteers to work the annual student Soup and Bread Night fundraiser Wednesday to raise funds for local charities.

Blugold Dining raised $19,000 in donations to support the Feed My People food bank in Eau Claire. Approximately 30 students volunteered to work for free on Soup and Bread Night serving food, working in the kitchen or bussing tables.

Brian Gomez, marketing manager for Blugold Dining, said the students who volunteered were primarily resident assistants and students from the Blugold Dining Committee.

“With such a great response in students volunteering their time, we are able to just get down to a bare bone staff and let the students run the show,” Gomez said.

At last year’s Soup and Bread Night 186 gallons of soup and 144 loaves of bread were consumed. Gomez said he hopes this year’s edition of the fundraiser can beat last year’s donation amount of $2,019.

“Unlike other fundraisers, we’re not actively soliciting donations and asking people for money,” Gomez said. “We’re just asking students to come and eat as they normally would and just be open to something different for one night of the year.”

By donating money versus donating surplus food — the method most food drives utilize — the Soup and Bread Night fundraiser enables Feed My people to buy food in bulk for those in need.

“The average person goes to the grocery store and buys 10 cans of food for $10,” Gomez said. “They can take $10 and can buy 20 or 30 cans of food.”

Students who attended the fundraiser said it was worth giving up their other food choices for a night in order to help those who are less fortunate.

“We’re obviously helping people by fundraising,” sophomore Megan Wagaman said. “I think it’s great that the staff gets the night off, and all of the soups were great choices.”

First-year student Kelsey Worachek said it’s important to donate to good causes.

“I think we take things for granted, and I think it’s good they have this for the local food pantry,” Worachek said.

Gomez said the Soup and Bread Night fundraiser helps single mothers, the mentally ill, homeless and others who may be in need by simply serving soup and bread to college students for an evening.