More Than 48 Tons Collected During 2017 Helping Hands Food Drive

The University of Findlay and Sodexo collected nearly 100,000 pounds of nonperishable food during the 12^th year of its annual 12-hour Helping Hands Food Drive, held at five on and off-campus locations Wednesday, Nov. 1.
The grand total collected was 97,465 pounds. It was easily a record for the UF event and for all colleges and universities in the country that participated in the nationwide event organized by Sodexo. The amount also far exceeded this year’s 78,000 goal for the campus.
The food has been donated to CHOPIN Hall, a Findlay nonprofit that serves people within the region. In 2016 the organization gave out food, clothing, household and personal-care item assistance 49,349 times.
David P. Harr, director of dining services for Sodexo at UF, said collecting almost 20,000 pounds of additional food “is truly amazing.”
“This definitely shows our commitment to helping others and to helping out our neighbors. It also shows that this is truly a community event,” Harr continued.
Contributing event partners included Fresh Encounter (which operates Great Scot grocery stores) both Findlay Kroger stores, both Walmart Supercenters, Garner Trucking and Findlay Publishing Company.
CHOPIN Hall executive director Ron Rooker called this year’s food drive “tremendous,” and said the supplies will feed people for several months.
This event brings the total pounds of food collected since 2006 to 490,367 pounds. Since 2008, the University of Findlay has led the nation each year with the pounds collected compared to other institutions served by Sodexo.
The University community itself helped a great deal by donating food. According to Harr, student groups alone contributed almost 11,000 pounds.
Other statistics include:

• 37 pallets of food collected
• Two semi truckloads delivered
• 191 individuals who volunteered more than 468 hours
• 5,660 jars of peanut butter donated