More than 1,000 people passed through Tuesday’s Off Campus Housing Services Fair, which was sponsored by IKEA and held in the Marvin Center’s Grand Ballroom.

“We didn’t expect this exact volume of people, but we had hopes,” said Brian Hamluk, director of off-campus student affairs. The fair lasted from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and drew more than 300 people in its first half-hour.

Held annually by the Office of Off Campus Student Affairs, the fair offered students information on off-campus housing options and related services – such as information on banks, furniture rental or telephone and Internet service – in the Foggy Bottom area.

“We wanted to put all the things off campus students would definitely need in one place,” Hamluk said.

Promises of free food, giveaways and door prizes likely drew the slew of students to the event. Students eagerly waited in line to snatch up housing-themed handbags, mouse pads, playing cards, pens, cups, Frisbees, nachos and chicken wings provided by WOW Wingery and pulled pork sandwiches provided by Tonic.

Popular raffle prizes included GW Housing Program’s $1,000 for rent raffle, a $500 IKEA gift card, a $250 Bed Bath and Beyond gift card and a $100 Zipcar gift certificate.

Though some students in attendance said they had a genuine interest in the fair’s information, many said the event’s free food and gifts did draw them in.

After snatching a handful of gifts, sophomore Marta Maria Lopez said, “I feel like I just went shopping.”