The University of North Georgia is hosting its second annual Feed the Funnel event, in remembrance of 9/11 by empowering students to give back to the local community.
UNG’s Office of Student Involvement is partnering with The Pack Shack to bring students, faculty and community members together to package 100,000 nonperishable meals for the Georgia Mountain Food Bank. The Pack Shack is a service that allows participants to choose where the meals are distributed through its Feed the Funnel program.
Volunteers will be assigned stations involving meal packing in an assembly line format, including roles such as sustainer, funneler, weigher, sealer, boxer, taper and cleaner. Each bag contains five to six meals of rice and beans. They also feature a sticker that reads “Packaged with Kindness from the University of North Georgia.”
The fact that the event is on Sept. 11, resonates with students who are volunteering.
“My mother found out she was pregnant with me on Sept. 10, 2001, and my dad and uncle were both deployed around that time, so I feel very connected to the cause of this event because of these strong ties,” said Thatcher Crowder, SGA Representative for the UNG Corps of Cadets.
Jillian Starkey, president of UNG’s Sigma Kappa, says, “I really like to volunteer on campus, making a difference big or small. Being in leadership shows others how to lead inside and outside of this organization.”
Mallory Rodriguez, director of student leadership programs, shared what inspired the event, “Most college students nowadays have no connection to the 9/11 attacks. Our team was really looking for a way to introduce the concept of 9/11 in an accessible manner through service, since it is the National Day of Service.” She said the event aims to bridge the gap by combining education with community service, making the significance of 9/11 more relevant and impactful for students today.
“Being in the Corps and the National Guard, I am serving my country. I may not have been born during that time to wear the uniform, but wearing it now carries significant weight; it speaks for itself. I want to set the standard for those in the Corps who may not recognize their obligation to join the cause,” said Cleo Johnson, sophomore business major.
Last year, the event exceeded its goal by packaging more than 100,000 meals. “Our biggest goal this year is to surpass the amount, aiming for 120,000 meals. We also hope to engage more students and share information about other campus service opportunities,” said Scott Hefner, associate director of student involvement.
The event will be Sept. 4 from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Convocation Center. Volunteers can sign up for one-hour shifts.
