Tufts dining workers are an integral part of keeping our community healthy and well cared for, and Tufts students would like to set up an appreciation fund to show our support and gratitude. Before next semester, we hope to raise enough money to give all of the dining workers a $25 gift card for the holidays. Last year, enough money was raised to give dining workers and managers each a $52 gift card, and it meant a lot to workers to be seen and appreciated in this way. With the wealth concentrated in Tufts students' hands, we as a community should feel responsible for giving back to the people who make our daily meals possible. This holiday season, think about the people you see every morning who greet you before your breakfast at Dewick or check you out with your snacks at Hodge.

Tufts Dining employees work tirelessly throughout the day to feed thousands of students. Working in food service is not easy, and coordinating the feeding of thousands of students requires dedication and effort that is often unnoticed and taken for granted. Contributing is a concrete way to show your appreciation and put money directly in the hands of the workers you know and rely on. These donations will not affect the lack of support from the university administration but will help the workers feel appreciated and valued as community members. We acknowledge that some people are more or less capable of contributing to this fund, and any amount makes a difference. We ask you to consider your personal spending for the holidays this year when making your donation- how much are you planning to spend on a Winter vacation or holiday shopping for yourself? What small fraction of this spending would make a meaningful donation? As you pick out gifts for your family and friends, think of other people who have supported you throughout the entire semester.

Regardless of whether or not you are financially capable of donating, we encourage you to post an appreciation note on one of the boards in Dewick or Carmichael.