Lila Palmer, a first-year West Virginia University health and well-being major from Pine Grove, is one of 10 winners of Sodexo’s national “Grateful Plateful” Sweepstakes, a promotion designed to give students across the country a chance to win a charitable donation to a food-related organization of their choice.
The annual sweepstakes, part of Sodexo’s dining campaign to promote gratitude and giving within college communities, included a $1,250 donation on Palmer’s behalf.
She chose to direct the funding to The Rack: WVU Student Food Pantry — a resource on campus that provides food and hygiene items to students in need.
“I remember hearing about The Rack during New Student Orientation and thinking how awesome it was for students to just come get food and other items whenever they needed them,” Palmer said.
Visit The Rack website to find more information.
An Amazon wish list for The Rack is also available.
“We are grateful to receive this donation, especially from a student who chose us specifically and at a time when we have items to restock,” said Sydni Vega, a program assistant for Student Engagement and Leadership who oversees The Rack.
“We plan to purchase food items that are popular among students, including a variety of pastas and beans, freezer meats, produce for Fresh Food Mondays and more.”
The “Grateful Plateful” prize also included a $575 Visa gift card for Palmer.
Students are randomly drawn after entering the sweepstakes by scanning a QR code at campus dining halls.
University students have additional chances to win during the Spring 2025 semester.
Sodexo is launching “Stay Connected” starting the week of Feb. 3, a sweepstakes that runs through March 17.