Living to Serve, the fourth line of the FFA motto is a natural fit with the organization. With the Wisconsin FFA Convention being back in person again this year, the Wisconsin FFA Day of Service was a top priority to still be a component of the upcoming event. Beth Rieth, coordinator of the Wisconsin FFA Day of Service, shared the plan for this year and how attendees can get involved.
During the 92nd State FFA Convention, the Wisconsin FFA is partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank to run a food drive and collect items that will be distributed around the state. Second Harvest has been a partner within the Day of Service, since it’s beginning and jumped at the opportunity to support an event again this year. With uncertainty in planning and a delay in convention, Rieth and her crew decided that a food drive was the safest and best way to go to still make an impact on the community, as they were unable to send students out into the community for service projects. Second Harvest Foodbank works with 14 different counties across Wisconsin, so Rieth knew that the food collected by Wisconsin FFA members will be making a difference not only in Madison, but across the state as well.
The goal is for every convention attendee to bring at least one food item to the drive. Second Harvest gave a list of items that they are looking for that includes: beans, cereals and oatmeals, soups and stews, canned vegetables, nut butters and canned tuna and chicken. Their only requirements are that the items are non-perishable and not in glass containers. FFA members can also sign up to help with the food drive to collect these items during the convention. Items will be collected throughout convention and then sent to Second Harvest.
