21st Annual Helping Hands
Food Drive
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
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About Helping Hands
The Helping Hands Food Drive at the University of Findlay is a long‑running campus tradition where students, faculty, staff, and community members come together to fight food insecurity in surrounding Northwest Ohio counties.
Donate Derrick Dollars
Students can support the Helping Hands Food Drive by donating Derrick Dollars.
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Donate Today
Every contribution helps provide food and essential items to local families in need.
Donate Here
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Top Requested Items
Peanut Butter
Canned Fruit
Canned Soup
Bottled Juice
Cereal
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Event Schedule
Find the date, time, and place for each Helping Hands event. Open an event for the full description and awards information.
WEDNESDAY · OCTOBER 7
Helping Hands Movie Night
Time: 6 p.m.; movie starts at 7 p.m.
Location: Watterson Center Lawn
Event details
The University of Findlay’s Helping Hands Food Drive will kick off its 21st year of addressing food insecurity in Hancock County with a family-friendly Community Movie Night on Wednesday, Oct. 7, featuring a special screening of “Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!”
WEDNESDAY · OCTOBER 28
6th Annual Make and Partake
Time: 4–6 p.m.
Location: Alumni Memorial Union MPR
Event details
Join us for a fun, creative afternoon where we swap a traditional grazing board for personal, portable treats. We will be building our own custom trio of single-serve vessels, each with its own unique style and flair, packed with a selection of cured meats, cheeses and other pairings chosen by our very own Chef Richard. More information and the sign-up link will be shared with eligible individuals via email.
THURSDAY–TUESDAY · OCTOBER 29–NOVEMBER 3
Can-Struction Presented by SGA
Time: Begins October 29 at 4 p.m.; ends November 3 at 8 p.m.
Location: Watterson Center
Event details and awards
Student groups and organizations will build sculptures entirely out of canned goods beginning October 29 at 4 p.m. Teams will have until November 2 at 11:59 p.m. to complete their creations. Judging and online voting will be available on November 3 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Awards include:
- People’s Choice
- Most Creative
- Most Poundage
TUESDAY · NOVEMBER 3
School Golden Can Collection Day
Location: Hancock Schools
Event details and awards
Area middle and high schools compete to collect the most pounds of food per student population.
This friendly competition helps build community spirit while supporting local families.
Awards include:
- Golden Can Award
- Silver Can Award
- Bronze Can Award
WEDNESDAY · NOVEMBER 4
Helping Hands Food Drive: Collection Day
Time: 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Location: Watterson Center
Event details
The University of Findlay’s Watterson Center serves as the central hub, where all donations will be inspected, sorted, and packed for delivery to CHOPIN Hall.
- Collection sites TBD
THURSDAY · NOVEMBER 5
Helping Hands Food Drive: Awards Ceremony
Time: 8 a.m. load-out; noon ceremony
Location: Watterson Center
Schedule and announcements
- 8 a.m. – Food load-out and delivery to CHOPIN Hall (Thank you Garner Trucking)
- Noon – Helping Hands Award Ceremony in the Watterson Center
During the Ceremony We Will Announce:
- Total volunteer hours and number of volunteers
- Overall pounds of food collected
- Can-struction winners
- UF Campus Challenge winners
helping hands food drive
The History of Helping Hands
Since 2006, the University of Findlay’s Helping Hands Food Drive has brought together students, employees, local schools, businesses, and community members to fight food insecurity in Hancock County. What began as a community effort has grown into a longstanding tradition of generosity, collecting more than 2.3 million pounds of food for individuals and families in need.
Each year, campus and community members come together through food drives, competitions, and other events to collect donations that directly benefit local hunger-relief efforts. The food collected through Helping Hands is donated to CHOPIN Hall, which distributes food to individuals and families throughout the community.
| Year | Total Pounds Collected | Facts |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 458,171 lbs. | During this year’s theme of “banding together to fight hunger,” Helping Hands collected an astonishing 458,171 pounds of food—surpassing last year’s record by 192,955 pounds! |
| 2024 | 265,216 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2023 | 247,897 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2022 | 238,732 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2021 | 214,599 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2020 | 165,735 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2019 | 115,867 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2018 | 111,436 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2017 | 97,465 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2016 | 74,446 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2015 | 64,392 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2014 | 49,957 lbs. | Second highest total in the history of the event. Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2013 | 55,022 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2012 | 47,287 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2011 | 37,271 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2010 | 26,324 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2009 | 17,825 lbs. | New record! Finishing first among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2008 | 12,641 lbs. | New record! Finishing third among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected. |
| 2007 | 6,544 lbs. | New record! Finishing second among college campuses nationwide for pounds of food collected |
| 2006 | 994 lbs. | This is the first year the food drive was introduced to all college campuses across the United States. |
Helping Hands would not be possible without the generous support of community partners. Garner Trucking Inc. has played an important role by donating food and providing transportation to deliver collected donations to CHOPIN Hall. Campbell Soup Company and Walmart have also made significant contributions, with Walmart additionally providing community donation locations for food drop-offs.
The continued generosity of the University of Findlay and its community partners has made Helping Hands a lasting tradition of service and an important part of the university’s commitment to supporting the Findlay community.
university of findlay
Get Involved
Want to get involved? Contact us to learn how to donate, volunteer, sponsor, or contribute to our Annual Helping Hands Food Drive.
Email: helpinghands@findlay.edu
Phone: (419) 434-4559
Location: 301 Davis St., Findlay, OH 45840