As part of an effort to combat the effects of the state budget impasse, Shippensburg University’s Activities Program Board (APB) held a dinner and movie night in the Ceddia Union Building on Thursday.

Students were invited out for a free meal and a night of entertainment to take their mind off of their financial problems.

“With the state budget impasse, Pennsylvania students’ PHEAA grants have been held up and there’s a large amount of food insecurity on and off campus for our students,” said Jaime Roop, the APB treasurer.

APB also published a list of local organizations that offer either free food or meal outreach programs, including Christ United Methodist Church on King Street, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on East Burd Street and the Shippensburg Church of the Brethren on East Garfield Street.

Students were given a choice of beef noodle or chicken noodle soups, as well as turkey and cheese or ham and cheese sandwiches, with water and a variety of sodas to drink. Students could choose to take home pre-bagged meals, which featured Uncrustables peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, apples and several different snacks.

Following the meal, APB put on a showing of the 2015 romantic comedy “Trainwreck.”

Some students, like seniors Brandi Keppel and Maddie Moyer-Keehn, came out to enjoy the movie and indulge in the free food.

“We just came home from work and didn’t have time to make dinner,” Keppel said. “Plus, they were showing a good movie.”

Others, like freshman Carley Livezey, came out to beat the cold and enjoy some time with friends before finals.

“It’s starting to get really cold outside and what better way to spend time with your friends than enjoy a nice meal?” Livezey said.

Even though APB primarily hosted the meal in order to help students get through the budget impasse, it also wanted to give students a night to relax.

“We offer these dinners to give students a free hot meal to help take their mind off of studying and finals,” Roop said.

“Our soup and sandwich dinner was kind of a follow-up to their [Student Senate’s] spaghetti dinner this previous week,” Roop added. “It’s just a great way to help students de-stress before finals. It gives them a nice, hot, free meal so they don’t have worry about where their meals are going to come from for the night and it’s a good way to just relax and have fun with your friends.”

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