Students make a paw

Dec 21, 2023

By Briana Iordan

Photos By: Ashlee Klotzbuecher

Students made their own stuffed animals at the annual Caring, Bearing, Sharing event in the Student Center on March 7. The event was co-hosted by the Campus Activities Programming Board and Tiger Pantry.

CAPB is a student-led programming committee that puts on events for students. In the past, CAPB has sponsored events like Sprinkle Some Love and Mocktails and Masterpieces.

According to Jackson Estwanick, junior and director of marketing for CAPB, Caring, Bearing, Sharing is one of CAPB's longest standing events.

The event generated donations for Tiger Pantry, MU's campus food bank. Tiger Pantry serves students, staff and faculty facing food insecurity.

"The main goal of Tiger Pantry is to not only reduce food insecurity, but also the stigma that surrounds food insecurity," Lauren Marino, junior and fundraising coordinator for Tiger Pantry, said. "We provide a lot of resources to students that they may not even know about."

To participate in the event, students donated either $5, five non-perishable goods or one meal swipe.

"I think it's great that you can donate a meal because that's pretty simple to do," freshman Julia Gutzman said. "It's oftentimes hard for college students to get around and find donations, but a meal is just pretty simple and comes directly out of your dining plan."

Marino said the event raised 412 pounds of non-perishables and $1,044 in cash. Thomas Holmes, junior and outreach coordinator for Tiger Pantry, said the donations will help Tiger Pantry stock shelves and purchase food, and the meal swipes will be redistributed to those in need.

"What we take in supports us a great deal," Holmes said. "We are here at the end of the day to try and make life easier for our tigers."

Before the event even started, a long line of students stretched across the main floor of the Student Center.

"Caring, Bearing, Sharing is very popular every single year and people wait almost an hour even to get through the line," Marino said.

At the event, students could pick between a bulldog, bear, tiger, elephant or giraffe stuffed animal. Students also chose between yellow, blue and purple fabric hearts to add to their stuffed animals, similar to Build-A-Bear. After selecting an animal, students took a seat at long tables lined with piles of stuffing that looked like puffy white clouds.

"I look forward to this event every year," Marino said. "We really love being able to see the people who are making a direct impact and then them getting something in return … I think there's a good connection of getting that … little nice cuddly bear after you just made yourself feel a little warm by donating [and] giving back to the community."

Junior Alyssa Smith knew about Caring, Bearing, Sharing in the past but never had the chance to attend until this year. After donating five canned goods, Smith made an elephant with a purple heart.

"I think this is a really great way to raise money because everyone wants a stuffed animal," Smith said. "It's a good way to give back."

Smith said her favorite part of the event was the personalization and being able to take home a cute stuffed animal while helping others.

Gutzman was hanging out in the Student Center when she saw the event being set up, so she decided to stop by. She said the event looked like an exciting activity and a good mental health break from studying.

"I think it's definitely important to support the Tiger Pantry because we are all in a huge place of privilege to be attending Mizzou," Gutzman said. "I think [the event] is a great idea that brings the community together for a good cause."

There was a steady stream of students throughout the event. Due to its popularity, the event ended earlier than expected once it ran out of materials for the stuffed animals.

"We love having students," Estwanick said. "I hope if they didn't get a chance to make a friend this year that they’ll come back and do it again next year."

Edited by Zoe Homan | [email protected]

Copy edited by Sterling Sewell and Lauren Courtney

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