Six-Ton Campaign exceeds goal
Posted by Judy Riley on Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2009
by Ruth Hamberg '09 -- After a month of fundraising for the first annual Six-Ton Campaign, the tally exceeded the goal: University of Minnesota, Morris students and community members raised the equivalent of 7.47 tons, or 744 pounds and $2,366 in food and monetary contributions.
The goods were donated to the Stevens County Food Shelf at the culmination of the campaign, which challenged participants to raise six tons of food throughout the month of March.
The campus partnered with the Food Shelf and local churches. In addition to a competition held between the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes, students picked up donations at local stores and collected food door-to-door.
“The more we partner with people, the more awareness is raised,” said Carol McCannon, administrator in the Office of Student Activities and coordinator of Student Community Service and Volunteerism. “When students and the community meet face to face, when we get together, the product is better,” she said.
“And I think Lauren [Dennhardt] did a great job with that,” she added, referring to the student coordinator who managed the campaign from start to finish. Dennhardt ‘11 came up with the idea after learning that for every dollar raised, the Food Shelf could buy six pounds of food.
“I believe what amazed me most about the project was the difference each bit of money made,” said Dennhardt. “It really reinforced my belief that the accumulation of the charity in one community can make a huge difference.” She also noted the support of Brynn Stember ’11 and Professor of Chemistry Nancy Carpenter, chair of the Mission and Social Action Committee at Federated Church, in raising money and making connections within the community.
Photo: Students head for the Stevens County Food Shelf with a pickup load of food.
