 "Photo: Joy Kowald")
Despite being denied funding in November through the Whitewater Student Government the United Methodist Ministry's free lunch program is continuing.
After WSG voted against the funding at its Nov. 19, 2007, meeting the UMM program turned to the church.
"We brought a request to the church to increase what they were doing," University Ministry Coordinator Sandy Hiebert said. "The church approved the request in January which helps."
Although the money from the church helps, it will not be enough to sustain the program forever, Hiebert said.
"We have a grant that we are in the process of obtaining at the state level from the statewide conference of the United Methodist Church," she said. "We are hoping that will be enough to get us through next year."
Fundraising is another option UMM is looking into in order to keep the program running, but if things don't work out, more drastic measures may be in order.
"We are just starting to talk about [fundraising]," Hiebert said. "We may try creating an endowment fund in order to solicit larger contributions, but we may have to cost cut, maybe by shortening the lunch season. We keep looking to keep things at the best quality at the lowest cost while trying to advance our funding base."
No hard feelings were harbored by the UMM in the wake of the WSG's decision.
"I felt comfortable with the decision in the end," Hiebert said. "It was a learning process, and I was very pleased with many of the senators' commitment and depth. They took their job serious and made an appropriate decision in the end."
Many students thought WSG should have voted to support UMM's program.
"I have no problem with a small raise in tuition if it goes towards something like this," senior Jessica Dooley said. "[UMM free lunch program] promotes community and college working together and being connected."
Junior Brianna Hayes echoed Dooley's sentiment.
"This is an amazing program and $1.50 is not much considering everything else paid in tuition that we don't use," Hayes said.
WSG Academic Affairs Director Justin O'Rourke wanted students to know the decision was not an issue of separation of church and state but rather viewpoint neutrality.
"If we give one religious organization $15,000, then next year when all religious organizations apply for money we would be obligated to give them all the same amount, not by choice but by law," he said. "Not that I don't support the group, I saw it as a stretch to use student dollars for."
UMM's free lunch program will continue until funding is completely exhausted or for some other reason it becomes impossible.
"We pray as long as God wants this program to continue, He will provide," said Hiebert.
Hiebert also made it clear that the goal of the program is not to push religion on anyone.
"We do this because of our faith, not to convert others to our faith, but it is us acting out our faith," Hiebert said.
The free lunch program has existed for eight years and is held every Tuesday from 10:45 a.m.-1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church located at 145 S. Prairie St.
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