Kent State University was recognized this month by the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank for its volunteer work with the organization last year. In appreciation of the service provided by the university, the foodbank bestowed Kent State with the 2018 Organizational Volunteer Group of the Year award.
The university, including the Kent Stark Campus, fielded 255 volunteers who provided some 800 hours of community service. Kent State helped to process over 36,000 pounds of donated food items during 2018.
"Kent State has committed to making a regional impact in our community,” said Amanda Woodyard, director of Community Engaged Learning at Kent State. “The foodbank is a great way for students, staff and faculty to make connections with one another and with the greater community. It is definitely a favorite volunteer opportunity. The students have a great time and feel very welcomed.”
Each year, the foodbank celebrates outstanding volunteers in three different categories: Volunteer of the Year, Corporate Volunteer Group of the Year, and Organizational Volunteer Group of the Year.
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was formed in 1982 to provide emergency food to those in need. The foodbank provides food and other essential items to member hunger-relief programs in Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties that operate nearly 500 food pantries, hot meal sites, shelters and other hunger-relief programs.
The Volunteer Center is where donated food is inspected, sorted and repackaged in preparation for distribution. Volunteers provide thousands of hours of support every year, helping to prepare this food for those in need. Every day, the Foodbank's hunger-relief programs place and pick up food orders at the warehouse. The foodbank feeds approximately 263,200 people through this network of programs every year.