Annual Helping Hands food drive prepares for 20th year
By Pulse Staff
For 20 years the University of Findlay has hosted the Helping Hands food drive. But in year 20, this year, there’s a different sense of urgency as the U.S. government shutdown leads to a Nov. 1 cut off of the SNAP benefits program.
The food collected during the Helping Hands drive is donated to CHOPIN Hall (Christians Helping Other People In Need), a local non-profit organization providing food and other items to people who need assistance. CHOPIN Hall website says the organization provides more than 7,000 meals weekly but with the SNAP benefits expected to be cut off this weekend, that could increase.
CHOPIN Hall has been helping people in the community for 40 years. In 2024, according to its website, it provided food for 367,200 meals (1006 meals per day).
Helping Hands has collected 1.1 million pounds of food in the last five years.
- 2024: 265,216
- 2023: 249,897
- 2022: 238,732
- 2021: 214,559
- 2020: 165,735
This week Helping Hands kicked off with a Marching Band Showcase at Findlay High School’s Cooper Field called “Band Together to Fight Hunger.” The price of admission to the Tuesday, Oct. 28 event was a non-perishable food donation.
People can participate in the Silent Auction or join the Campus Challenge. Departments and colleges compete for the Helping Hands Emsweller Cup with the winner determined by the average pounds donated per person (total pounds collected divided by the number of faculty and/or staff in that specific area). And students can even donate Derrick Dollars towards the food drive. The $1 Derrick Dollar Donation Form allows
the Dining Office to deduct $1 Derrick Dollar from the student’s account to donate towards the Helping Hands Food Drive.
UF Student Government Association is hosting the Can-struction competition. Friday, Oct. 31 the event kicks off at 4:30 p.m. with a rules review and students can start building at 5 p.m. They have until Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. to complete their display, when judging and public voting begins. Awards will go to Most Creative, Most Poundage, and People’s Choice.
The main event of the Helping Hands campaign is collection day, Wednesday, Nov. 5. People can drop off donations in the CBSL from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Off-campus collection sites around Findlay will accept donations from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Those locations include Findlay Chamber of Commerce, Kroger on Tiffin Avenue and Sixth Street, Walmart on Trenton and Tiffin Avenues, Great Scot on Broad Avenue, and Brinkman’s.
The top five items needed are peanut butter, canned fruit, canned soup, bottled juice, and cereal.
The awards ceremony is Thursday, Nov. 6 at noon in the CBSL. Winners of the Can-struction Competition, and Campus challenge will be announced. Those attending the ceremony can also enjoy 20% off at The Refinery and the Bookstore.
*In a special column this week, David P. Harr, the director of dining services at University of Findlay, reflects on 20 years of serving the community through the Helping Hands food drive.
*In an editorial column this week, Pulse Editor Victoria Hansen explores the increased need for food donation brought on by the potential lapse in SNAP benefits.
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