Wartburg students packing boxes full of food.
Wartburg students packing boxes full of food. Photos by Riley McClellan
Last week, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, Wartburg College helped host the 5th annual Pack the Backpack service event hosted by the Institute for Leadership Education Baldwin Fellows and partnered with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank (NEIFB).
This is the largest service event that takes place on Wartburg’s campus. During the five hours this event took place, over 450 students, faculty, and staff managed to pack 18,120 bags full of food, which equals three semi-trucks full. This was the first year that this event was opened up to the entirety of campus.
NEIFB helps distribute nutritious food products to 127 nonprofit organizations and programs that helps families with food assistance, including counties like Blackhawk and Bremer. Last year, Northeast Iowa Food Bank distributed more than 8.6 million meals to many different counties.
The Institute for Leadership Education Baldwin Fellows is an interdisciplinary program that involves students and staff to help serve their community. They help sponsor many community services events throughout Wartburg and throughout the community.
In an email from The Institute for Leadership Education Baldwin Fellows, the group thanks the volunteers who participated. To fill out a survey from the event, click here.
Moses Bunn and Julie Maylum opening up grocery bags to pack full of food.
Carter Andrews, Vince Diers, Mason Coulter and Aiden Skoda breaking down boxes to send off to the recycling bin.
Ava Vanderheyden and Olivia Hoy loading plastic bags full of different snacks.
Students packing plastic bags full of food.
Garret O’Halloran wrapping boxes full of food in saran wrap to load into the semi truck.