MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University is working with Ohio State University to pack meals to send to their local food banks. The ‘Buck’Neers’ Meal Packing Party is bringing both schools together with local food banks in West Virginia and Ohio to host fun themed events that would directly impact the local community.
“Not only is it a service project but it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said WVU Social Action Coordinator Klarissa Brenneman. “There’s a DJ, the Mountaineer is going to be there to kick it off for us with a shot of the musket, like it’s going to be a good time, so we’re excited to have everybody there and we’re really thankful,” she said.
WVU is working with the Mountaineer Food Bank to reach a 120,000 meal goal to be delivered around the Mountain State. These meals will consists of food necessities that serves up to six people and are packed by WVU students and local volunteers during the hosting of activities around the WVU Shell Building by the Colesium. According to Brenneman, the intitative came to mind as a way to have WVU students increase their community engagement.
“Hands on service, they actually get to do the project and then see how it gets distributed and how they’re helping their community while they’re in school,” she said.
As part of the collaboration with Ohio State University, Brenneman says after both schools finish packing meals, they plan on meeting in Williamstown on Thursday to celebrate the service project. While there, each university will recognize a local food hero while taking collaborating pictures along the Williamstown-Marietta Bridge in recognition of the neighboring states.
“The Williamstown Bridge actually is owned by West Virginia but it crosses into Marietta, Ohio, so we’re actually going to do photos and video on the bridge where you can see the ‘Welcome to West Virginia’ sign,” Brenneman said.
The WVU Center for Community Engagement will be acknowledging The Gathering Food Pantry and Old Man Rivers Organization for their efforts to address food insecurity in North Central West Virginia. The ‘Buck’Neers’ Meal Packing Party will be supported by AmeriCorps VISTA, Coca-Cola, First United Bank & Trust, United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties and West Virginia 211 as well volunteers throughout the WVU Community.
“We have a lot of students that aren’t originally from West Virginia, so it’s nice that they come together and they get to learn about the food insecurities and the statistics of West Virginia,” Brenneman said. “While helping the state that they’re ultimately living in for the four years that they’re here,” she said.