The annual Bum-A-Meal event will kick off Hobo Week on Monday, Oct. 7. Starting at 5 p.m., students will connect with the Brookings community with a home-cooked meal.

Students will meet in the Volstorff Ballroom to receive their host family assignments. Then, they will be sent out into the community to enjoy a home-cooked meal.

Sign-up for Bum A Meal begins at 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30. Students can sign up through the Jacks Club Hub in the forms tab. The link will also be sent out in the Rabbit Report that morning. Sign-up is on a first-come, first-served basis. Groups must sign up with at least four people.

“It is a great way to connect with the Brookings community,” Bum-A-Meal Coordinator, Kordiea Rerick said. “because we are unique in that Brookings is such a small town and really connected with SDSU. This is such a unique event.”

Brynn Graphenteen, a senior, participated last year and had an unforgettable time.

“It was fun. We went to this lovely couple’s house; they were very welcoming.” She said. “They had so many food options and even had a bonfire for us to go out and make s’mores on.”

Graphenteen enjoyed this event because it was a way to get out into the Brookings community and get into the Hobo Day spirit.

“All of us dressed up as hobos to match the theme of the event,” said Graphenteen.

The Hobo Day Committee’s goal this year is to feed 1,000 students, according to Rerick.

“Our busiest time is a few days before Bum-A-Meal when we are matching students to homes and just figuring out what groups go where.”

Graphenteen says that students on the fence should give the event a shot.

“100 percent do it. It was such a cool experience to meet with families and students through some good food.”