On Friday and Saturday, Jan. 26 and 27, more than 800 volunteers will gather again in the UT Health Education Building to assemble thousands of meals through the Feed My Starving Children program.
Anyone can help by joining the mobile pack, donating money for food, and by spreading the word.
UT’s participation in this mobile pack event is sponsored by the College of Business and Innovation Klar Leadership Academy, which was founded in 2015 with the support of Steven Klar, a 1971 business alumnus and a New York City builder and real estate developer. Klar will attend this event to work a production shift with his wife, Kathy, and son, Ashton, who are coming in from New York.
Additionally, longtime UT benefactor and business alumnus Ed Kinsey is a primary sponsor of this year’s event through the Kinsey Family Foundation and also will be in attendance to work a shift with his family.
“Members of the College of Business and Innovation’s Klar Leadership Academy have set a goal to build 160,000 meals for Caribbean hurricane relief and are taking the lead to recruit 850 volunteers and raise nearly $40,000 for this year’s event,” said Dr. Clint Longenecker, Distinguished University Professor and director of the Center for Leadership and Organizational Excellence in the College of Business and Innovation.
“At The University of Toledo, we are all about developing student leaders who can fulfill the University’s mission of improving the human condition,” Longenecker continued. “This event is a perfect example of our students developing leadership, servant-leadership, planning and team-building skills while serving a greater purpose — to help create solutions to the problem of world hunger.”
“We are all very excited about this big campus-wide event and are working very hard to make it a big success,” noted Nick Johnston, a student in the College of Business and Innovation. “It’s something bigger than ourselves. It’s a win-win: We are learning invaluable leadership skills while at the same time helping address global issues like world hunger.”
“I had the amazing experience of volunteering last year to make these nutritious packs for children in Haiti,” said Natalie Zerucha, a student in the College of Business and Innovation, who is a Klar Leadership Academy member. “I participated in the last shift possible last year, and we created a total of 34,776 meals, which feeds 95 kids for an entire year. My heart was so full to pray over the last shipment before it got on the truck.
“I learned a lot about myself that day, and I challenge you to do the same. Here is your chance to give back to kids who need nutrition in their lives,” Zerucha said.
While members of the Klar Leadership Academy are taking the lead in organizing the event, hundreds of volunteers and at least $36,000 are needed to help obtain the goal of assembling 160,000 meals over the two-day mobile pack.
There will be three shifts Friday, Jan. 26, following setup: noon to 2 p.m., 3 to 5 p.m., and 7 to 9 p.m. There also will be three shifts Saturday, Jan. 27: 9 to 11 a.m.; noon to 2 p.m., and 2 to 4 p.m.
To donate or register to help at the event, go to https://give.fmsc.org/Toledo.
