OSU BeKind Food Distribution Project at Hardin County Fairgrounds Thursday Morning

Hardin County community organizations are connecting with The Ohio State University (OSU) and the Hardin County OSU Extension team for food kindness.

On Thursday, September 28, 2023, Hardin County community organizations are coming together to celebrate kindness in the local food community as OSU delivers 43,044 shelf-stable meals.

For the first time, Hardin County is one of three locations selected for this 2023 OSU BeKind project. The food is being delivered to Ohio State regional campuses in Marion and Lima, as well as the Hardin County Fairgrounds, via the official Ohio State Football equipment truck owned by Ken Blair.

As part of these local communities, OSU Extension organized the distribution of the assembled meals to local non-profit organizations in each county. Student volunteers from Ohio Northern University will be on-site as well to help with the distribution.

Addressing food security throughout the year takes an entire community. Champions spreading kindness in their local food community will be recognized at each location.

To contribute to healthier, hunger-free Ohio communities, meals will be packed by 600 students, staff, faculty, alumni, and other volunteers on the Columbus campus on Tuesday evening, Sept. 26. This is the fifth year OSU has brought together the Buckeye community and local Ohio communities to address food security through this kindness project, with food packing on the Columbus campus, and food distribution to food insecure counties throughout the state. This event can prompt conversations about food security with friends, families, colleagues, and neighbors.

The program is a collaboration among the OSU Buckeye community, including Ohio State Student Life, Athletics, the Chief Wellness Officer, the Alumni Association, the College of Food Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and local OSU Extension teams, including SNAP-Ed community nutrition. Grant funding provided by Coca-Cola and the 9-11 Day.org Foundation.

The 2023 OSU BeKind project will take place at the Hardin County Fairgrounds in Kenton on Thursday, September 28th, 2023 from 8:15 a.m – 9:15 a.m.