The River Bend Food Bank’s 39th Annual Student Hunger Drive kicks off later this month, and the non-profit is announcing a new initiative to run concurrently to aid its efforts.
Community Engagement Manager Jayna Gallagher says the Student Hunger Drive is the largest single campaign to collect food during the non-profit’s yearly operations.
“And I think what makes it unique is it is strictly student-led and it is six-weeks. So it's a pretty short duration. And the fact that these young change makers are leading the efforts is really impressive,” Gallagher said.
Over the last 38 years of the Student Hunger Drive the total funds and food collected would equal over $19 million, according to Gallagher.
This year, federal funding is up in the air for thousands of nonprofits across the country who serve communities with food, shelter and healthcare. Gallagher said the non-profit was looking for an additional way to respond and came up with the Million Meals Match initiative.
“A community wide effort, to come alongside these students and match that million meals in funds,” Gallagher said. “So at the food bank, $1 provides five meals. So the translation for the million meals is that we are challenging our community partners and businesses to raise $200,000 to meet that million meals.”
River Bend Food Bank is partnering with IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union to raise those funds. They currently have ten ambassadors from various organizations participating in the initiative. They are carrying pins and have window stickers letting people know of the initiative.
Sixteen area high schools are competing this year to see who collects the most food.
“Many of these schools host a lot of community events so we just ask, you know, place your support where your allegiance lies and certainly reach out to any of us at River Bend Food Bank if there's interest in participating in this Million Meals Match,” Gallagher said.
Residents can donate canned goods like soup, fruit and vegetables as well as cereal, pancake mix and bottled water. Additional details can be found on the River Bend Food Bank’s website.
“Our last fiscal year, we were able to provide 17 million meals. So the efforts that these students, you know, have over the six weeks like this, this is vital to those operations,” Gallagher said. “Our 23 county service area, we know the numbers are pretty staggering where 1 in 8 adults and 1 in 6 children are facing food insecurity. So the efforts of these students is vital to meeting those needs.”
The Student Hunger Drive begins on Monday, September 29th.
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