Ryan McCambridge of the Linn-Benton Food Share prepares to hand out awards during a ceremony honoring the 2013 OSU Food Drive participants. Date: March 19, 2013 (photo: Theresa Hogue)

There’s nothing like a little healthy competition to bring people together. For Shelly Signs, director of University Events, the annual OSU Food Drive does just that, bringing people from around campus together to participate in events like raffles and bake sales, and pits unit against unit, college against college, in a friendly race to bring in the most donations.

“We meet people in the food drive, and it’s so great to put a face with a name,” she said.

The February 2013 food drive raised $65,718 from events alone.  Payroll contributions totaled an additional $56,630, and 15,702 pounds of food was collected.  All cash donations are converted by the statewide figure of 4 lbs. purchased for $1, bringing the total food poundage collected this year to 513,096.

There were 71 events held around campus for this year’s drive, up from 53 last year. Food drive organizers came together March 19 for a lunch to celebrate their accomplishments and reflect on a lot of good work.

According to Mike Gibson, director of Linn-Benton Food Share, the OSU Food Drive has raised more than half a million dollars in the last five years to be distributed to food banks around the two counties. In the meantime, they’ve seen a 35 percent increase in the number of people coming in for emergency food boxes.

A number of campus organizations received awards for their work on the OSU Food Drive.

“This infusion of cash really helps us,” he said. “Families and individuals are able to eat because you care. You are giving these families hope and a sense that their community cares about them. They are not invisible or abandoned.”

OSU President Ed Ray reflected on the generosity of the OSU community in the face of tough economic times.

“The last five years have been the hardest this country has seen since the Great Depression,” he said. “We can all make a gesture once, but to keep coming back when it gets harder and harder to reach out… this community has done it.”

Ray also pointed out that the Linn-Benton Food Share’s focus on providing healthy and nutritious food to its clients ties in with OSU’s own mission to support healthy communities in Oregon.

He added that supporting activities such as the food drive provide the OSU community with a chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of other community members.

“It imbues us with a sense of caring,” he said. “This commitment helps us find a purpose in our own lives.”

The following are this year’s winners:

The College of Forestry has collected the most donations for the OSU Food Drive 12 years running.

Off Campus
1. Hatfield Marine Science Center
2. Extension, Wallowa County
3. Extension, Linn County

Student Organizations
1. University Honors College
2. Enactus
3. Latter Day Saint Student Association

Team 1 (1-20 employees)
1. 6th Floor Kerr
2. NROTC
3. School of Public Policy

Team 2 (21-50)
1. Microbiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics
2. Chancellor’s Office
3. Animal and Rangeland Sciences

Team 3 (51-100)
1. Botany and Plant Pathology
2. Biology and Zoology
3. Business Affairs

Team 4 (101+)
1. Forestry
2. Vet Med
3. Foundation

Bringing in the bucks (Celebrating increased payroll contributions)
Chancellor’s Office
School of Writing, Literature and Film
College of Public Health and Human Sciences
Forestry

Most Creative idea
Graduate School
Research Office
Linus Pauling Institute

Linn-Benton Food Share awards
Top Banana – College of Forestry
Kettle of Caring – 6th floor Kerr
Apple of our Eye – NROTC, Naval Science
Hope Spring Eternal – College of Vet med
Pot ‘O Gold – College of Forestry
Donut Feel Good to Give – University Honors College
Spud – Enactus (SIFE)

~ Theresa Hogue

Last year, OSU employees and students raised more than 647,000 pounds of food for the Linn-Benton Food Share. This effort is in conjunction with the Governor’s State Employees Food Drive. The resources gathered by county Extension offices, Experiment Stations, Cascades Campus and Centers associated with OSU go to their local food banks. Proceeds from the OSU Corvallis campus benefit the non-profit agencies served by Linn-Benton Food Share. These agencies include local food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, day care centers, shelter homes, and gleaning groups in Linn and Benton counties.

Due to the economic downturn, food is even more expensive than previous years. That means donations, especially monetary ones, are even more crucial. According to Shelly Signs, OSU Food Drive organizer, there are 89 teams from across campus, as well as extension offices, an experiment station, and several student groups.

“The Oregon State community has historically been very generous during this drive, and I am sure that this year will be no exception,” Signs said. “We’re always amazed at the creative way units raise money and food during the drive, and we’re excited to see what new events spring up during the next month.”

There are a number of ways to participate in this month’s food drive. You can write a check or make a cash donation through your department’s food drive coordinator. You can make a monthly contribution by clicking on the link provided on the food drive home page at http://oregonstate.edu/urm/events/food-drive. You can plan or support a food drive event — there are dozens across campus this year. Or you can bring in canned or dried foods to donate in your office.

For a calendar of events: http://oregonstate.edu/urm/events/food-drive/calendar-events or check OSU Today for daily updates.

To post your own event: http://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0NHIwqLlgMLhCmN

This year's winners for most food and money collected for the annual OSU Food Drive. (photo: Larry Pribyl)

A group of Oregon State employees and students gathered March 14 to celebrate the success of the OSU Food Drive, which broke previous records.

“‘Wow’ seems inadequate, said Mike Gibson, Director of the Linn-Benton Food Share. “You have all done a tremendous job once again and set a new record for the eleventh year in a row.”

The annual drive, coordinated by Kate Sanders of University Events, is held in collaboration with the Governor’s State Employees Food Drive, encouraging state organizations to host food drives to benefit local food banks. OSU will now compete with other state universities and agencies, with results to come later this year.

“The results of the other universities have not yet been published,” says Sanders, “but, every year Oregon State brings in more pounds of food than any other university in the state.”

The totals this year are promising: the drive collected cash donations and food that amounted to just over 644,400 pounds of food, surpassing the initial goal by nearly 64,000 pounds. The event also increased its intake by more than 68,000 pounds from last year, a growth that was certainly welcomed by both Gibson and colleague Ryan McCambridge, coordinator of the Linn-Benton Food Share, who have faced a 12 percent increase in demand from last year.

“The contributions help to purchase the staples needed to fill the nutritious food boxes,” explained Gibson. “With your help we are able to put together boxes that give the recipients food that their bodies need, not just fill them up.”

The resources collected throughout the drive provide 25 percent of the Linn-Benton Food Share’s purchasing dollars for the entire year. In a single month, the Food Share provides food for more than 13,000 individuals, 40 percent of which are children. The food is distributed through 74 member agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, day care centers, shelter homes, and gleaning groups in Linn and Benton Counties.

“The success of the food drive speaks volumes about the strength of community here at Oregon State University,” President Ed Ray told the audience.

President Ray also celebrated the commitment of each of the food drive participants, noting dozens of ways that groups raised funds and collected food including bake sales, spaghetti feeds, silent auctions, and drop boxes.

“This project is excellent because not only does it work to eradicate hunger, it also demonstrates our commitment to each other and to our community,” Ray said.

A wide variety of departments, organizations, and colleges were honored for their participation in the drive efforts. The top earners in each category were as follows:

Off campus: Hatfield Marine Science Center, 3,646 pounds
Student Organizations: Students in Free Enterprise, 13,337 pounds
Team 1, 1-20 employees: Sixth Floor, Kerr Administration, 9,800 pounds
Team 2, 21-50 employees: Chancellor’s Office, 26,037 pounds
Team 3, 51-100 employees: Botany and Plant Pathology, 27,708 pounds
Team 4, 100 plus employees: College of Forestry, 56,962 pounds

~ Jessica Budge

Ryan McCambridge presents the Hope Springs Eternal Award during the OSU Food Drive celebration (photo: Theresa Hogue)

That was the sentiment of Ryan McCambridge, coordinator of Linn-Benton Food Share, as he praised the success of the annual OSU Food Drive, which provides the Food Share with 30 percent of its annual food acquisition budget. Kate Sanders of University Events coordinated this year’s OSU effort.

McCambridge and Mike Gibson, manager of the Linn-Benton Food Share, took part in a ceremony this week honoring the departments and offices that raised the most money and food for the annual drive, which took place during the month of February.

In total, the event gathered more than $100,000 in cash donations and 19,000 pounds of food. By turning the cash into its equivalent in pounds of food, the total equals more than 522,000 pounds of food, which will directly benefit the community.

“Times are tough for everyone these days,” Gibson said, referring to the recession and to OSU’s recent decision to furlough faculty and staff. “And yet you produced the best food drive ever.”

The College of Forestry yet again received top honors for their effort in the annual food drive (photo: Theresa Hogue)

Oregon currently has the second highest rate of hunger in the nation, and more than 11,000 Linn and Benton County residents are listed as unemployed, not including those who are now working part time or have dropped out of the system altogether. Over the last year the Food Share has seen an increase in demand of 1,800 requests for emergency food boxes.

Gibson said there are many sources of support for the Food Share in the community, but none as large as OSU.

“It makes us feel good to know we’ve got the whole community behind us,” he said.

President Ed Ray said hunger has real consequences to a person’s ability to work and learn, and those consequences are long-term. He praised the university community’s increasing support for the food drive, and noted that donations have increased by 100,000 pounds in two years.

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) receive an award from Ryan McCambridge of Linn-Benton Food Share (photo: Theresa Hogue)

A number of departments, organizations and colleges were honored for their food drive efforts. The following are the top earners in each category:

Off campus: Extension Service, Wallowa County, 4,036 pounds
Student Organizations: Students in Free Enterprise group (SIFE), 5,051 pounds
Team 1, 1-20 employees: Sixth Floor, Kerr Admin, 11,335 pounds
Team 2, 21-50 employees: Animal Science, 16,372 pounds
Team 3, 51-100 employees: Botany and Plant Pathology, 24,644 pounds
Team 4, 100 plus employees: College of Forestry, 54,858 pounds

~ Theresa Hogue

The annual Linn-Benton Food Share fundraising event The Magic Barrel takes place 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, at a new location, the Corvallis High School Theater. Music begins at 6:30 p.m. The event features food, music, autographed books and most importantly, authors reading from their own works.

A number of the participants have ties to Oregon State University, including the evening’s emcee, Karen Holmberg. Her first book, “The Perseids,” was published in 2001. A Discovery/The Nation award winner, her work has appeared in such magazines as The Paris Review, The Nation, Slate, Quarterly West, Southern Poetry Review, Hotel Amerika, and West Branch. She teaches literature and poetry writing at OSU and has previously read some of her work for Magic Barrel.

Holmberg said she is involved with the Magic Barrel because she wants to motivate the audience to find ways to use their own talents to solve problems and address intolerable conditions.

“Oregon ranks as the third hungriest state in the nation. According to the Oregon Hunger Task Force Web page, 17 percent of Benton County’s 80,000 citizens are in poverty,” she said. “This should make clear why, as a community, we have to bring our talents and determination to bear on solving this problem, or at the very least, making people more aware of it.”

John Larison teaches in the OSU English department, and has just published his first novel,”Northwest of Normal.” An attendee of the Magic Barrel for several years, this is Larison’s first time as a performer.

In “Northwest of Normal” the protagonist arrives via driftboat to the Cascadia Carnival, an event Larison said he modeled after the Oregon Country Fair.
“What hadn’t changed was the smell: first the purple sweetness of ripe blackberries, then deeper, the green spice of Doug fir needles. Deeper yet was the chocolaty musk of the river at dawn, its fog ghosting over the riffle…. This was the Ipsyniho he remembered, and Christ had he missed it,” he writes in his new novel.

Larison worked for several years as an English teacher in a school for disadvantaged youth.

John Larison, author, instructor with the OSU English department

“Many of my students got their one meal a day from the school’s free lunch program,” he said, “and I saw first hand the effects of chronic hunger. People don’t learn when they’re hungry.”

He said he hopes the audience at Magic Barrel sees the power of literature to not only inspire but to organize people behind important missions.

Another OSU English department member, Ted Leeson will also read at Magic Barrel. He has been a freelance writer for over 20 years and has authored three books of essays, “The Habit of Rivers,” (1994), “Jerusalem Creek” (2002) and most recently, “Inventing Montana” (2009).

Other readers include Margaret Anderson, Geri Doran, George Estreich, Gregg Kleiner, Aria Minu-Sepehr, Cindy Smith and Jana Zvibleman of the OSU Research Office.

Suggested admission: $7, no one will be turned away from lack of funds.  All proceeds go to Linn-Benton Food Share.

Can’t make it to the Barrel this year? You can still be part of the action by making a contribution to Linn Benton Food Share. You can make it on behalf of The Magic Barrel? To make it extra easy, you can donate online , at www.csc.gen.or.us/foodshare.htm.

For more information see http://magicbarrel.org/

Ryan McCambridge of Linn-Benton Food Share presents an award to an OSU department to celebrate their record-breaking food drive.

University faculty, staff and students donated the equivalent of 485,091 lbs. of food, an increase of nearly 70,000 lbs. over last year’s total. That includes almost five tons of food for the agencies and programs served by Linn-Benton Food Share, the local food bank, as well as $95,022 in cash and direct deposit donations, compared to $75,124 last year.

The amount is the highest raised among Oregon universities this year during the Governor’s State Employee Food Drive.
Given that at least one in five residents in this area is going to turn to an emergency food pantry sometime during the year, the importance of sustaining the regional food bank cannot be overestimated, said President Ed Ray, who celebrated the achievements of OSU’s Food Drive during a luncheon in the Memorial Union. Mike Gibson, Director of Linn-Benton Food Share, and Ryan McCambridge, Coordinator of Food Share, joined him during the event.

Gibson said that yet again, OSU had exceeded all previous years in their fundraising efforts.

“It is obvious that you know there is a crises and you care enough to devote time and energy to helping,” Gibson told the group, which included a number of organizers of food drive efforts from various departments and colleges around campus.

Linn-Benton Food Share has seen a 15 percent increase in demand for services this year, and January’s demand was up 24 percent from January 2008.

“It has started to tax our resources and this food drive has been a big boon to us,” Gibson said.

The amazing amount of money and food raised was a bright spot amidst a gloomy economic period, Gibson said. Donations from Oregon State University make up one quarter of Linn-Benton’s annual budget.

“All of these efforts are central to making sure food is available to those in need,” Gibson said.

“Hunger is one of the most punishing and intractable problems we have in our society,” President Ray told the audience. Oregon’s high ranking among food insecurity in the nation is not a number we should be proud of, he said. That’s why the effort of the OSU community was so important. The fact that efforts ranging from soup feeds to auctions to karaoke events helped break OSU’s previous food drive fundraising was not lost on the president.

Terralyn Vandetta receives the Top Banana Award for the College of Forestry, which gathered the most donations. (photo: Theresa Hogue)

He told the audience that the food drive represented one of the most complex, well-organized volunteer efforts on campus.
Ray said the campus was setting a strong example to Oregon’s future leaders, who are currently enrolled on campus. By instilling a commitment to service through practice, he said events like the February food drive will demonstrate what can be achieved through concentrated community effort.

“We have to reach beyond our own needs and be attentive to the needs of others.”

~ Theresa Hogue