The annual We Scare Hunger Food Drive is this week. Beginning on Monday, October 27th, and ending on Friday, October 31st, students and community members are encouraged to bring non-perishable goods to donate.

Examples of non-perishable food items include granola bars, soup, and individually packaged snacks. Students can bring perishable food, as well, but non-perishable food is recommended.

“[We’re] specifically looking for granola bars, canned meat, rice, baking items, and name-brand soups, […] but we’re open to any donations,” Youth in Action advisor Jenna Torney said.

The drive is run by Orono Youth in Action—a club dedicated to service in the Orono community.

The purpose of this drive is to battle local food insecurity. Food insecurity is defined by Oxford Languages as “the condition of not having access to sufficient food, or food of an adequate quality, to meet one’s basic needs.” In Minnesota, an estimated 1 in 5 households suffer from food insecurity.

“[Donating] is a great way to help your community and help those in need. It is really easy and tangible to do, and it can help with food insecurity, which is becoming a problem,” Youth in Action Leader Kaitlyn Klaers said.

All items donated go to Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP) food shelf, WeCAN, and the Spartan Closet.

“WeCAN and IOCP are our two nonprofits that support families in Orono,” Torney said, “They both have food shelves [for Orono families].”

The Spartan Closet is a resource for students that contains food and clothing for those in need. It is located in Conference Room B of the media center and is available at any time during the school day for students to access.

In order to donate, just place a food item in a box like the one pictured below; then, it will go straight to one of the partners listed above.