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By Victoria Hansen, HansenV@Findlay.edu
A surprise donation of 40 dozen eggs left Buford Center staff scrambling to find takers.
University of Findlay students received an egg-stremely odd email March 3 stating that the Buford Center received a large number of eggs due to a shipping error.
“Error for them however a benefit for the UF Community,” the email wrote.
The City Mission of Findlay donated about 12,000 cases of eggs to the Buford Center.
“Michigan passed a law that banned the sale of non-cage free eggs,” said Miriam Ibarra, Food Services Manager at the Findlay City Mission. “A store bought all of these eggs and wouldn’t be able to sell them, so they just cancelled the order. I got a call offering the mission all of these eggs. We had enough to send to every shelter in Findlay, Fostoria, Toledo, and CHOPIN Hall.”
UF Pantry in the Alumni Memorial Union (AMU) distributed eggs the morning of March 4, with two giveaway times on Tuesday and one on Wednesday.
“They offered us 15 cases, but we could only take five,” said Alex Parker, Assistant Director for Campus and Community Engagement at the Buford Center.
The other 10 cases were sent to College First Church of God.
The email also stressed that these eggs were for “consumption use only,” with students needing to sign a document promising to use these eggs only for that purpose.
“We recognize that there are pranksters in the world, and we didn’t want these eggs to go to waste,” Parker said.
Buford Center staff worried about low interest, but when distribution started, the line for egg pickup extended out the pantry door.
“Eggs are a good source to get protein and easy to cook compared to other meats,” said Meng Ting Chung, a student at UF.
Despite concerns about student interest, all eggs were given away by 10:23 a.m. on March 4, only one hour and 23 minutes after the giveaway started.
“I’m a broke college student, and eggs are pretty expensive right now; they’re free,” said UF student Landon Smith.
Most students picking up eggs had kitchen access, but it is possible to cook eggs in the microwave with proper protocol. Eggs hard-boil in the microwave by heavily salting the water. Without proper safety, eggs may explode in the microwave, causing messes and burns.
