Organization Comes Aboard to Help End Hunger
In collaboration with Kellogg’s Food Away From Home, the University plans to donate 6,400 servings of cereal to the Monmouth & Ocean County Food Bank in Neptune, NJ by the end of October.
Kellogg’s Food Away From Home is a part of the Kellogg Company that makes an effort to evolve with the constantly changing lifestyle of Americans. The company provides timeless products such as ready-to-eat cereal, crackers, grab ‘n go snacks, cookies, frozen items, and desserts that members of older generations will look on with nostalgia, but with additional differences that make the items unique to newer generations.
The collaboration between the University and Kellogg will benefit many. “For those receiving aid from the program, an estimated 6,400 servings of cereal are expected to be donated,” said Jennifer Ferm, of Foodmix Marketing Communications at Kellogg’s Food Away From Home. “This partnership also allows Monmouth University students to become involved and provide support since 45 percent of households with children experienced hunger in 2010.”
“This is the first time the Food Bank, Aramark, and the University has participated in Kellogg’s program,” said Dan Winters, the Food Production Manager.
The effort began on September 1 and will continue until October 31. During this time, for every bowl purchased by a student on campus, a bowl of cereal will be donated to the Monmouth &
Ocean Food Bank. This event hopes to gather at least 6,400 servings of cereal by October 31 to help the unfortunate and hungry in our local communities.
“It is just another way for Monmouth students to give something back to the local community,” said Mary Anne Nagy, Vice President for Student and Community Services. “We all know that the difficult economic times have had an impact on people who need to have their own pantries supplemented by the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean County. This partnership with the University, Aramark, and Kellogg’s to donate an equivalent amount of cereal consumed here during a period of time to the Food Bank is a way for students to continue to try to help other people.”
The Food Bank of Monmouth & Ocean serves over 260 pantries and distributes seven million pounds of food through soup kitchens and other feeding programs annually.
The organization “was established in 1984 by concerned citizens who saw that there were people in need of food in Monmouth and Ocean County,” said Ellen Koment, of the Press and Media division of the Food Bank.
According to their website, the mission of the Food Bank is “to provide access to food for as many people in need as possible in our neighborhoods” and their ultimate goal is “to eliminate hunger in our local communities.”
Additionally, the Food Bank has a Culinary Training Program for individuals in need of better paid jobs, a Kid’s Café and Backpack program and a Mobile Pantry Program, which functions in low income housing areas and distributes food in parking lots from trucks. The Food Bank also has a Food Stamp Outreach Program, which helps families purchase the food they need.
The University’s Dining Services, alongside Kellogg’s Food Away From Home, will attempt to assist the Food Bank and help feed the needy, all while allowing students to partake in a significant cause.
On September 29, the University will have an official opening to the cereal bowl program. A representative from Kellogg’s, Linda Keenan from the Monmouth and Ocean County Food Bank, Dan Winters of Aramark, and Mary Anne Nagy, the Vice President for Student and Community Services, will be in attendance for the ribbon cutting ceremony at 3:00pm.
The Kellogg Company has been providing cereals and other products for consumers all around the world for over 100 years. As of 2010, Kellogg’s is the world’s leading producer of cereal as well as a producer of snacks such as cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruitflavored snacks, frozen waffles and veggie foods, with sales being more than $12 billion. The wellknown company’s brands include Kellogg’s, Keebler, PopTarts, Eggo, CheezIt, AllBran, MiniWheats, NutriGrain, Rice Krispies, Special K, Chips Deluxe, Famous Amos, Sandies, Austin, Club, Murray, Kashi, Bear Naked, Morningstar Farms, Gardenburger and Stretch Island. Kellogg’s products and brands are manufactured in 18 different countries and are marketed in more than 180 countries.
“For the Monmouth students who are involved in Habitat for Humanity and Relay for Life, this is just another step in their community involvement,” said Winters. “Students are already community oriented, so I figured that this was just another way for them to get involved. They’ve eaten a lot of cereal,” he adds.
“Kellogg has supported food banks across the U.S. for nearly 30 years. On average, the company donates $20 million of products annually,” said Tim Knowlton, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for the Kellogg Company, in a recent press release. “Our partnership with Monmouth University Dining Service and the Monmouth & Ocean County Food Bank is an example of our continued commitment to helping those challenged in these economic times.”
“We might do this again,” said Winters. “Maybe this spring. We are going to do this once or twice a year and see how it works out.”
The food drive, which began September 1 and will continue until Halloween, encourages students to participate and help the many who are in need. For every serving of cereal purchased by on campus students, a serving will be donated to feed someone less fortunate in our community. For any more information, please visit www.fafh.com or www. foodbankmoc.org.
“It’s good to be aware of your surroundings,” said Winters, “because just next door there could be someone who is going hungry.”
“Eat more cereal,” said Nagy, in a parody of the famous Chick-fil-A tagline.
PHOTO COMPOSED by Joanna Zietara
