FLORENCE – The Pantry, a student resource at the University of North Alabama, will be the recipient of a portion of sales from a book co-written by UNA faculty member Dr. Jason McCall. The Hunger Journal, the publisher of Dr. McCall’s book What Shot Did You Ever Take, has also donated 25 percent of all book sales made from June 8 to June 15 to The Pantry.
“Because of the name of the press (The Hunger Journal), my co-author and I wanted to use this book to raise money for those dealing with hunger or food insecurity,” said Dr. McCall, who is an English Assistant Professor at UNA. “With that in mind, the press has agreed to donate a portion of the profits from the book to the UNA Pantry and the West Alabama Food Bank.”
The Pantry is an on-campus amenity that provides food to students in need at no cost. It is supplied through a blend of campus and community donations, and all UNA students have access to its inventory. The Pantry’s mission is to support the basic needs of the UNA community and raise awareness about the growing issue of food insecurity across campus.
“The donation from Dr. McCall’s book sale was such a unique and creative way to contribute to The Pantry,” said Bethany Green, the Assistant Director of Student Engagement at UNA. “It shows that there’s an opportunity to give back in even the most unexpected circumstances. The money we get from the book sales will help us restock The Pantry to prepare for the fall semester.”
What Shot Did You Ever Take is a chapbook of collaborative poetry written by Dr. McCall and his co-author Brian Oliu. The book pays homage to the famous Rocky films and discusses topics related to the franchise and to the authors’ own experiences. “The closely-held archetypes of heroes and villains, the impact of media on culture and childhood, boxing, Black experiences in America, and the ways we seek out and reckon with our battered and glistening American dream” are the ideas on which the book is centered, according to The Hunger Journal’s website.
McCall and Oliu’s book What Shot Did You Ever Take was officially released in June. It is available for purchase on The Hunger Journal’s website, here.
Media Release/Ms. Michelle R. Eubanks
Director
University Communications & Marketing
UNA
