Campus Kitchen at Kent State partners with local food bank to distribute food to hundreds of households in inaugural event

On December 16, 2020, students and faculty from Kent State University participated in a massive effort organized by The Campus Kitchen at Kent State and the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to distribute food to families in need. The event marked the first official event of a collaboration between the two organizations to reduce food insecurity in communities surrounding the university. The distribution will continue into the new year and organizers intend to expand the items available to include other non-food necessities.

The Campus Kitchen at Kent State was started by students in 2011 who aimed to utilize food that would have otherwise been thrown out to prepare meals weekly. It also hosts food pantries and also distributes meals to other service agencies in Portage County. Recently The Campus Kitchen formed a partnership with the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to help a greater number of people. The expansion of services was made possible by a Feeding America grant received by the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. The recent mobile food bank was the inaugural event for the partners. Organizers set up a drive-thru food pantry at Dix Stadium and distributed food to over 200 households. Volunteers braved the cold to pass out food items in a format that was efficient and convenient for all.

The mobile distribution center will be set up the third Wednesday of each month through June 2021. Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank Programs Coordinator Cody Stanley said that the food bank intends on expanding the mobile food pantry programs to Stark and Summit counties. Organizers plan to add toiletry items as well as the program progresses.