The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps members met at the Food Pantry Network of Licking County in Newark, OH, on Friday, March 18, for their mid-year retreat. Members were able to participate in professional development and receive updates and information from Ohio Campus Compact and ServeOhio. The location of the winter retreat supplemented the LeaderCorps project of member Stephen Pierce who serves at Central Ohio Technical College (COTC). Stephen organized a food drive to coincide with AmeriCorps Week to celebrate the contributions of AmeriCorps members. AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages more than 80,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community organizations across the country.
The Food Pantry Network of Licking County has been fighting hunger for 40 years. It has over 20 partner food pantries throughout Licking County and offers weekly fresh produce markets, a daily community soup kitchen and a baby pantry, ensuring multiple points of access to nutritious food for neighbors. Additionally, the Food Pantry Network of Licking County partners with local social service organizations to provide on-site feeding programs or food distribution for youth, individuals, families, and seniors facing food insecurity.
In addition to AmeriCorps training, members also learned about financial literacy and took a tour of the Food Pantry Network facilities. Pictured below are Executive Director, Chuck Moore, and AmeriCorps members learning more about food insecurity in Licking County and Ohio.