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Food in a Flash

Kent State's University-wide Food Drive • Oct. 31–Nov. 24, 2025

For three weeks, Golden Flashes across the university will collect donations for our pantries located on campus (Flashes Fighting Hunger and the CARES Center) and United Way-affiliated pantries in the community. 

This drive is a collaborative effort led by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Undergraduate Student Government (USG), the Center for Student Involvement (CSI), Athletics, Flashes Fighting Hunger, the CARES Center, Culinary Services, the Criminology Club, Kent State's United Way Campaign Committee, and the Flash Activity Board (FAB). 

Help our campus community fight food insecurity! Every can, box and dollar adds up.

 

How to Participate

1) Drop off canned good items at campus collection sites (Oct. 31–Nov. 24)

Look for clearly marked "Food in a Flash" collection stations across campus, including convenient spots near campus markets/C-stores.

Collection stations will be located in the following locations:

  • Kent Student Center -- Student Leader Suite (Rm. 217)
  • Tri-Towers -- Rosie's Market
  • Eastway -- Eastway Market
  • Merrill Hall -- First Floor
  • Crawford Hall 

2) Give at Athletics and FAB events

Bring shelf-stable items to the home men's basketball game on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. and the home football game on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. and receive giveaways from recent athletic events!

Interested in volunteering to transport, weigh, and sort the donated food? 

  • (11/18, 8-9 p.m.)
  • (11/19, 8-9 p.m.)

Bring items to Flash Activity Board (FAB) events on Sunday, Nov. 9 (Wicked Watch Party) and Friday, Nov. 14 (Kent State's Got Talent).

3) Drive-Through Food Drive (One Day Only!) with the 鶹ѡUnited Way Committee

Pull up, pop your trunk, and we'll do the rest.

Wednesday, Nov. 19 • 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. • Eastway Drive (in front of the dining hall—traffic will pull off for quick, contact-free drop-off).

Interested in volunteering at the Drive-Thru Food Drive? (one hour shifts).

Please note that donations from this day benefit Center for Hope, Kent Social Services, and Shepherd’s House.

4) Student Organizations: Make it a Team Effort

USG, CSI and student organizations (including the Criminology Club) are teaming up to collect donations from student organizations—with incentives for participating orgs. 

Form a collection plan, log your donations by turning in all donations to the Student Leader Suite in the Kent Student Center (Rm. 217) during the hours of 9 a.m.-  5 p.m. M-F.

Student organizations collecting and donating a minimum of 25 cans/items will be entered into a raffle. The ten qualifying organizations chosen will each receive FLASHcards pre-loaded with $200 from USG to be used toward organization programs and initiatives.

5) Give through Culinary Services & Swipe Out Hunger

Purchase and immediately donate canned good items for donation during visits to campus markets/C-stores . The CARES Center and Flashes Fighting Hunger are coordinating “Swipe Out Hunger” and receiving donated food throughout the campaign.  

 
Who Benefits

Your gifts during this food drive will primarily support Flashes Fighting Hunger and the CARES Center, both of which form the heart of our on-campus food-security efforts.

Additionally, the drive-thru food drive, coordinated by the 鶹ѡUnited Way Campaign Committee, will benefit three local partners serving neighbors across Portage County—Center for Hope, Kent Social Services, and Shepherd’s House.

Get Involved
  • Volunteer to help transport food donations from the and the
  • for the November 19th Drive-Thru Food Drive (traffic flow, unloading, weighing, and sorting).
  • Make sure your student organization collects food and joins the campus-wide collection effort.
  • Spread the word: share our posts and digital signage, and challenge friends, classmates, and colleagues to give.
What to Donate
  • Prioritize unopened, shelf-stable pantry staples (no glass if possible) at any on-campus collection station.
  • If you’re a 鶹ѡstudent, you can donate two (2) guest meal swipes to the virtual meal swipe bank through the “Swipe Out Hunger” program, which can be accessed on the “Student” dashboard on .
Partners & Logistics

The “Food in a Flash” campaign is a collaboration among Athletics and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Undergraduate Student Government (USG), the Center for Student Involvement (CSI), Culinary Services, the CARES Center/Flashes Fighting Hunger, Criminology Club and the 鶹ѡUnited Way Campaign Committee.

Key Dates at a Glance

  • Food in a Flash Drive: Oct. 31–Nov. 24
  • Athletics Collection Nights: Nov. 18 (MBB) and Nov. 19 (FB)
  • Drive-Thru Day to Benefit Kent Social Services, Center of Hope, and Shepherd's House: Wednesday, Nov. 19 • 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. • Eastway Drive

Ready to help? Rally your hall, your office, or your student org—and let’s make this the most impactful food drive 鶹ѡhas ever seen.

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