Helping Hands “Bands Together” to Donate Food Locally for 20th Year
Celebrating 20 consecutive years, the University of Findlay’s Helping Hands food drive continues to achieve new levels while fighting food insecurity in Hancock County. On Thursday, Nov. 6, campus and community members gathered to commemorate this year’s achievements, contest winners, and finalize the total food donation numbers.
During this year’s theme of “banding together to fight hunger,” Helping Hands collected an astonishing 458,171 pounds of food—surpassing last year’s record by 192,955 pounds!
“It’s very overwhelming when you see the grand total, and to know it’s actually going to help our neighbors is huge,” said David Harr, University of Findlay’s Dining Director. “Just to see this continue to grow and get support from everybody is just amazing.”
Once again, campus and community groups, along with local schools, joined in the competition for awards and bragging rights:
Findlay High School won the collection gathered from this year’s marching band show, bringing in 1,701 pounds (15.9 pounds per person).
Student Affairs led the UF Campus Challenge with 1,528 pounds per person, totaling 65,699 pounds!
McComb Middle School won the Golden Can Award for the fourth consecutive year, with 37.27 pounds per person.
In the Can-struction contest held on campus, Student Occupational Therapy Association won People’s Choice, Technology and Gaming took Most Creative, and Alpha Psi Omega brought in the most weight with 1,601 pounds.
All 78 pallets of food were picked up by Garner Trucking Inc. and delivered to CHOPIN Hall to serve those in need. This year’s drive brought the University of Findlay’s total donations since 2006 to over 2.3 million pounds.
Ron Rooker, director of CHOPIN Hall, expressed his gratitude, having seen firsthand an increase of people needing food in the community.
“Amazing – 458 thousand pounds – I can’t believe that number. The impact that will have on CHOPIN Hall and the community is tremendous, especially now,” Rooker said. “We have friends, neighbors, and individuals out there that are in need. With partners such as the University of Findlay, it gives us the ability to help these folks.”
To learn more about this year’s Helping Hands, visit https://www.findlay.edu/offices/student-affairs/dining/helping-hands.
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