Column by David P. Harr

harr@findlay.edu

When asked to reflect on the Helping Hands Food Drive through the past twenty years, my mind is overwhelmed with gratitude. Gratitude towards our campus, our community, our sponsors, and of course, our volunteers. I have always had a passion for feeding others, which is exactly how I ended up in the position I am in now as the Director of Dining Services. Feeding students and giving them a home away from home is something I have always enjoyed. But what about those that are living in our neighborhoods that are less fortunate than many of us?

That question sparked the conversation for the first ever Helping Hands Food Drive back in 2006 when we collected 994 pounds of food. Looking back, that seems like such a small amount compared to the 265,216 pounds collected and donated just last year. But to those in need, that 994 pounds made a world of difference.

Some of my favorite memories include volunteers getting involved in the community. Each year, our volunteers hear similar stories from community members of how they once relied on CHOPIN Hall to feed their families, and now, they are in a position where they can give back to the organization. It is heart warming to hear these wonderful stories of how they want to give what they can back to a great charity that provided services when they needed them most.

One of my favorite stories involves Theta Chi in the early years of the drive. They had just 10 members at the time but continuously collected more food than any other student organization. After reaching out to alumni for monetary donations, they headed to Aldi to cash them in for non-perishable food items when a stranger noticed their Greek letters and asked why they had over three carts full of food. After explaining their participation in the food drive, the stranger actually paid for all the food they were purchasing as part of their donation.

Along with these stories, I also enjoy reflecting on just how big of an impact this food drive has on CHOPIN Hall and the families they serve. Ron Rooker, executive director of CHOPIN Hall, has been a key asset in the wonderful partnership between UF, Sodexo, and CHOPIN Hall, and he always has great statistics to share! At this year’s Make & Partake event, he mentioned that the food drive typically brings in enough canned vegetables to provide families with green beans, corn, and carrots for an entire year! He also mentioned how much they appreciate the peanut butter donations because they are always needing more.

Seeing the growth this drive has had over the years is overwhelming. From setting out collection boxes to see what we could collect back in 2006, to coordinating with large warehouses for corporate donations, encouraging students to build sculptures using canned goods, and hosting a competition between local schools, the drive is sure to continue bringing our community closer than ever to contribute to a great cause.

I truly cannot express how thankful I am for all those that play a part in making this drive as successful as it is. Each year, we receive local, regional, and even national recognition for the work we do right here in Hancock County, and it would not be possible without our volunteers, sponsors, planning committee, and each individual donor. THANK YOU for helping feed our community!