United Way, Portage County looking for food, volunteers

Gina Maldonado

About 70 students will visit more than 30 buildings across campus today to collect canned goods for Portage County’s Change Hunger program.

This event is a prelude to Saturday’s National Make A Difference Day food collection at Risman Plaza.

Anna Gosky, senior special assistant of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, said volunteers will meet at the Student Center’s Risman Plaza Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

United Way needs students with cars to drive through Kent and knock on doors for food collection.

Volunteers are not required to remain all four hours and can stay at Risman Plaza to organize collected food. Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt, pizza and drinks.

Kent State’s United Way is working with Portage County’s Volunteer Administrators’ Network, five stores and five organizations for its 10th annual county-wide food drive, said Gloria Prendergast, United Way director of community involvement.

Last year’s Volunteer Administrators’ Network Change Hunger food drive collected 17,787 pounds of food for Portage County charities.

All donations will go to the Maplewood Career Center in Ravenna.

For volunteer information contact Chris Hook at 330-357-2841 or [email protected].

Contact social services reporter Gina Maldonado at [email protected].