"We do a lot of work talking to workers. This was an awesome opportunity to do something tangible for them along with our activism," said Smith.

While most funding for the event came from the Undergraduate Council and a grant from the Office of the Dean of the College, BSA member Jillion T. Harris '04 said individual students helped finance the gathering.

Council president Fentrice D. Driskell '01 said she was impressed by the event's success.

"I'm surprised we haven't done it before, and I can't wait to see it continue in the future," she said.

In addition to food and dancing, the day featured a raffle of items from several Harvard Square businesses, including gift certificates to Grafton Street, John Harvard's Brew House and Herrell's, a gift package from Origins and an assortment of CDs from HMV.

Greg R. Halpern '99, who helped create the Living Wage Campaign's employee testimonial display currently in the Science Center, said that this event should be a starting point for further efforts.

"The student body definitely could do more," he said. "We're really indebted to these people and the hard work they do. This place is beautiful and well-run because of them."