Donation boxes for the Battle Against Hunger food drive are located in the Ohio Union, Drackett Tower and Park-Stradley. Credit: Mariam Abaza | Lantern Reporter
As Thanksgiving draws near, Pay it Forward aims to mitigate food insecurity by hosting its annual Battle Against Hunger initiative.
Pay it Forward — a student cohort within the Office of Student Life — will collect nonperishable food donations throughout November for the initiative, which is a month-long donation and education campaign that alleviates food insecurity in Columbus. All collected items will be donated to the Mid-Ohio Food Bank, which works with food pantries across Eastern and Central Ohio.
Donation boxes are located at the Ohio Union information desk, the Park-Stradley front desk and the Drackett Tower front desk, said Kelsea Brown, graduate teaching assistant for local service programs and the adviser of Pay it Forward.
Though all nonperishable items are accepted, the most requested items are chili with beans, canned tuna, canned vegetables, canned meat, soup with vegetables, peanut butter and canned fruit, according to the Mid-Ohio Food Bank website.
“The mission of Battle Against Hunger is to raise awareness about food insecurity locally, as well as addressing it as a national problem,” Brown said.
Pay it Forward raises awareness through informational campaigns and hands-on opportunities to engage and educate students regarding local and global food insecurity, Brown said.
Madi Barnes, coordinator of community and civic engagement for the Office of Student Life’s local service programs, said pairing information with tangible action allows students to “connect their actions with the background knowledge of what they’re benefiting and why food insecurity is something they should care about.”
Battle Against Hunger has been held every November since its 2010 inception, Barnes said.
“It’s timely,” Barnes said. “It being in November, obviously, there’s a thematic connection to American Thanksgiving. It’s a food-forward holiday, but also a time when a lot of people do service that’s related to working with organizations that are working to combat food insecurity.”
Barnes said Pay it Forward showcases various groups that fight against hunger, including food pantries that are within walking distance from campus, such as Buckeye Food Alliance — located at 1800 Cannon Dr. — and Neighborhood Services Inc. — located at 1950 N. Fourth St. The ultimate goal, she said, is to reduce food insecurity in the central Ohio area.
“Pay it Forward wants to amplify the work of those organizations and do something to help give back to those organizations,” Barnes said. “It connects students to more information about what resources that they need if they are experiencing food insecurity, as well as how they can get involved after Battle Against Hunger is over to continue to address food insecurity in our community.”
Barnes said volunteerism among students is critical — whether it be through providing donations or collaborating with local food pantries — as it allows them to become engaged members of the Columbus community by making a positive impact outside of the university.
“They learn more about these pressing issues and the power that they have to give back and make a difference to help other people in the community, and continue to be a good steward and a good neighbor,” Barnes said.
Beyond volunteer opportunities, Pay it Forward highlights other organizations that tackle food insecurity and offer students the option of receiving necessary aid, Brown said.
“You can pass somebody every day that may experience food insecurity, and students are no exception to that,” Brown said.
The Mid-Ohio Food Bank and Buckeye Food Alliance are only two of the many resources students can access for food and other aid, Barnes said.
“At Ohio State, familiarize yourself with Buckeye Food Alliance and their donation needs and volunteer needs,” Barnes said. “Know that it is always a resource for students if they need to access food, but also if they want to donate.”
Brown said she urges students to learn about and contribute toward ending hunger in the local area.
“[Food insecurity] is an issue that doesn’t just go away when November ends,” Brown said.
Students can donate to the food drive through Nov. 31 and can learn about other Pay it Forward initiatives through its website or Instagram page.
