Hunger Hurts Food Drive Gathers 7500 Pounds of Food from Community Members


CELTS logoThe Annual Hunger Hurts Food Drive, coordinated by Berea College’s Center for Excellence in Learning through Service (CELTS), in collaboration with Berea Faith Community Outreach (BFCO), was completed on October 24, 2015.

Organizers report the food drive was a great success despite the rainy weather. The generous citizens of Berea contributed approximately 7500 pounds of much-needed food to fill the local pantry, the Berea Community Food Bank, which is sponsored by BFCO. Many families who are in need of assistance throughout the holidays will benefit from the community’s efforts to ease food insecurity here in Berea. Residents of southern Madison County who have an emergency food need or would like to request assistance from the BUURR program (Bereans United for Utility and Rent Relief) can call 859-985-1903 for more information.

This annual event is produced by the student-led initiatives of CELTS at Berea College and is supported by volunteers from numerous campus and community-based organizations. The event would not be possible without the efforts of our larger community, including all the people/everyone who filled a bag with food and placed it on their doorstep.

Categories: News, Programs and Initiatives
Tags: Appalachia, Berea Community Food Bank, CELTS, Hunger Hurts Food Drive, service

Berea College, the first interracial and coeducational college in the South, focuses on learning, labor and service. The College only admits academically promising students with limited financial resources—primarily from Kentucky and Appalachia—but welcomes students from 41 states and 76 countries. Every Berea student receives a Tuition Promise Scholarship, which means no Berea student pays for tuition. Berea is one of nine federally recognized Work Colleges, so students work 10 hours or more weekly to earn money for books, housing and meals. The College’s motto, “God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth,” speaks to its inclusive Christian character.