During Hunger Action Month, community organizations in Ohio counties have connected with The Ohio State University (OSU) and local OSU Extension teams for food kindness. In Ohio, 1,800,530 residents are facing hunger – and of them 517,450 are children (Feeding America). See the most recent Ohio Food Insecurity Data and use this lookup tool to search for food insecurity data in your county.
Food Packing Service Project
To contribute to healthier, hunger-free Ohio communities, students, staff, faculty, alumni, and other volunteers representing numerous universities will come together to pack 300,000 meals on the Ohio State Columbus campus on September 11, 2025. The BE KIND food packing event will have two sessions with hundreds of volunteers lead by Pack Shack for a crazy-fun, high-energy, high impact feed-the-funnel party! Students, staff, athletes, employees, alumni, fans, and families pay forward and participate in this great act of kindness. Watch this fun video from the party.
Food Distribution Service Project
On Friday, September 12, community organizations in northwest Ohio counties will come together to celebrate kindness in the local food community as Ohio State delivers more than 233,000 shelf-stable meals. The food will be delivered via the official Ohio State Football equipment truck with distribution points in Hancock, Wood, and Lucas counties. As part of these local communities, OSU Extension organizes the distribution of the assembled meals to local non-profit organizations in each county. Addressing food security throughout the year takes an entire community.
This event can prompt conversations about food security with friends, families, colleagues, and neighbors. The Food Kindness event is sponsored by 9-11 day.org, AmeriCorps, Coca-Cola, The Ohio State University Office of Student Life, Administration and Planning, Athletics, Legal, Alumni Association, OUAB Grad-Prof., and College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and local OSU Extension teams, including SNAP-Ed and EFNEP community nutrition.
Additional Food Insecurity Information
- Health Policy Institute of Ohio (2024)
- Spectrum News Report (2024)
- USDA Economic Research Service Report (2023)
Project Overviews
2022 Urban October Overview Including Food Kindness:
- 2022 Urban October Story (CFAES News)
- OSU Kindness Food Insecurity Packing & Distribution (media coverage)
- Complete 2022 Urban October Archive
2021 Urban October Overview Including Food Kindness:
- Urban October News Article (including video)
- Food Distribution News Article (including video)
- Complete 2021 Urban October Archive