Food Drive Raises 1,600 Pounds for Kent Social Services

A competition between the cities of Kent and Ravenna ended with Kent Social Services as the winner this weekend.

Kent's food pantry received more than 1,600 pounds of food on Saturday after Kent Mayor Fiala issued a challenge to Ravenna Mayor Joe Bica to raise as much money and food for the Center of Hope, a food pantry in Ravenna, as Mayor Fiala hoped to see raised for Kent Social Services.

Christie Anderson, director of Kent Social Services, said they received a total 1,674 pounds during the drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

"Dozens of Kent residents contributed food toward Kent Social Services' hunger challenge on Saturday," Anderson said. "Donated food totaled 1,674 pounds, which will greatly benefit the agency's effort to secure challenge grant funds as well as help meet food needs of local community members."

The effort was just one of two to gather food for the pantry, as students at the Kent State University College of Public Health conducted a separate food drive last for the pantry.