Trine tops Crush Hunger campaign with more than 31K pounds of food

FORT WAYNE — For the first time, Trine University won the annual U Can Crush Hunger Campaign held by Community Harvest Food Bank, bringing in more than 31,000 pounds of food to help those facing hunger.

The food Trine raised was part of more than 121,000 pounds total gathered by eight area colleges and universities.

“I am so proud of our Trine University community and how we have all come together to help those in need,” said Trine University President John Shannon, Ph.D. “Thank you to Assistant Director of Student Leadership Blake Grosse, Trine Student Government, Christian Campus House, and all the students, faculty, staff and members of the community who generously supported this effort.”

Dr. Shannon took a pie to the face during halftime of Saturday’s Trine-Kalamazoo football game, fulfilling a promise he made to do so if the Trine community raised more than 10,000 pounds of food.

This was the ninth year of Community Harvest Food Bank’s U Can Crush Hunger Campaign, which included Huntington University, Indiana Tech, Indiana University Fort Wayne, Ivy Tech, Manchester University, Purdue University Fort Wayne and the University of Saint Francis in addition to Trine.

The friendly competition accumulated 121,391 pounds of food toward Community Harvest’s 125,000-pound goal. The total was 14,462 pounds more than was raised in 2022.

The final standings were as follows:

• 1st Place: Trine University with 31,400 pounds
• 2nd Place: Purdue University Fort Wayne with 27,814 pounds
• 3rd Place: University of Saint Francis with 24,498 pounds
• 4th Place: Indiana Tech with 13,661 pounds
• 5th Place: Ivy Tech with 8,664 pounds
• 6th Place: Huntington University with 5,581 pounds
• 7th Place: Indiana University Fort Wayne with 4,959 pounds
• 8th Place: Manchester University with 4,814 pounds

Those in need of food assistance can go to www.CHFB.org and click “get help” or contact Community Harvest by phone Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at 260.447.3696.

About Community Harvest Food Bank

Established in 1983, Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, Inc. feeds 21,100 people every week.  Last year, CHFB distributed 11.9 million pounds of food to over 91,500 unique individuals. Adam Smith serves as Board Chair and Carmen Cumberland serves as President and CEO. Community Harvest is one of 200 Feeding America member food banks in the United States, and one of 11 regional members of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry.  Community Harvest feeds hungry people in the nine counties of northeast Indiana. For more information, please visit www.chfb.org.

Photo: John Wrachford, treasurer of Trine University's Student Government Association, hits Trine University President John Shannon, Ph.D., with a pie during halftime of Saturday's football game. Dr. Shannon had promised to take a pie in the face if the Trine University community raised at least 10,000 pounds of food for U Can Crush Hunger. Trine brought in more than 30,000 pounds. Click the photo to watch video. (Photo and video by Colin Meadowcroft)