Call me biased, but I think UCT is a great organization! As a non-profit membership society that strives to give back to local communities throughout the U.S. and Canada, we’re all about helping others. Members and employees (and ALL employees are members) really care about community, compassion and uniting to support people in need through volunteering. We do this through our more than 200 local councils, and we do it right here in Columbus, Ohio, where our headquarters are located.
One of our primary causes in Columbus is raising money and meals for Operation Feed and the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. June 22 is the date for our second annual food truck rally to benefit this important effort. We urge all Columbus foodies to head out to Watermark Island in Grandview for good eats from nine different trucks, music to munch by, the chance to win a number of great raffle prizes, and the chance to help those less fortunate in our community.
The event is set for 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the parking lot of our headquarters at 1801 Watermark Drive – otherwise known as Watermark Island on Broadcast Lake. At least 10-20 percent of all trucks’ proceeds will go to the Operation Feed campaign. Last year’s event brought out hundreds of participants – and the same is expected this year!
Participating food trucks include Short North Bagel Deli, Paddy Wagon, Pitabilities, Mixing Bowl, Giant Eagle Market District Foodie Truck, Loops, Blue Chew Food Truck, Sweet! The Mobile Cupcakery, and Graeter’s Food Truck. Sounds yummy.
Operation Feed has provided meals for families in need in Central Ohio for over 35 years. Each year, the campaign joins forces with local businesses, schools, civic groups and individuals to raise critically needed resources through a community-wide drive. Mid-Ohio Foodbank distributed 59,500,000 million pounds of food last year, enabling food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelters across 20 counties to provide food for more than 130,066 meals each day. Community support of Operation Feed efforts make this support possible.
UCT’s headquarters has conducted our own campaigns to help Operation Feed and the Mid-Ohio Foodbank for many years. To date, we’ve donated nearly $26,000 and collected more than 6,000 pounds of food for the food bank, resulting in over 108,000 meals for hungry Central Ohioans. Not bad for an organization with less than 60 employees.
According to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, one in six Ohioans is food insecure. They don’t know where a next meal is coming from. Many struggling families have to choose between paying for housing, utilities or medical expenses and putting food on the table. Operation Feed raises funds and food equating to millions of meals for families here in our community struggling to make ends meet. We’re proud to be able to help with these efforts.
If you’re in the area, mark June 22 on your calendar and come join us! For more details about the food truck rally, email jspring@uct.org, call 614.4879680 x100, or visit www.uct.org.