Anyone can get a complimentary bowl of jambalaya Thursday, Oct. 12, by donating a nonperishable food item to Second Harvest Food Bank or cash for the Extra Yard for Teachers project.
The dish will be served at the Cox Athletics Center by Cajun Field from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and also prior to the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns football game, which will start at 6:30 p.m. The Cajuns will face the Texas State Bobcats.
Each person who makes a donation of nonperishable food to Second Harvest or cash for Extra Yard for Teachers will receive one bowl of jambalaya prepared by Sodexo.
“We encourage fans to go to the football game. But those who can’t make it to the game can drop off a donation and get a complimentary bowl of jambalaya during their lunch hour,” said Dr. Jessica Leger, deputy director of UL Lafayette Athletics.
Fans who want to donate nonperishable food or cash from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. should enter Cajun Field parking lots using Gates 1 or 3. They’ll be directed to a drive-thru lane.
Jambalaya also will be available in exchange for donations from 4-6:30 p.m. under the oak tree at Gate 1 of Cajun Field, near Russo Park.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will review local teachers’ requests for financial assistance through the Extra Yard for Teachers website. Cash donations collected Oct. 12 will be awarded to local educators at a home basketball game during the 2017-18 season.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is composed of representatives from all UL Lafayette athletic teams. Extra Yard for Teachers is a nationwide initiative led by the College Football Playoff Foundation that aims to elevate the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers.
The Oct. 12 promotions are the result of a partnership formed by:
- UL Lafayette Dining Services, which Sodexo operates on the University’s campus;
- Second Harvest Food Bank;
- the University’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee;
- Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Athletics;
- the University’s Offices of Sustainability and Community Service;
- PODS, a moving and storage service; and
- ICEX Systems, an ice supplier.
Second Harvest Food Bank provides food to more than 550 partners and programs across 23 parishes from the Mississippi border to the Texas state line.