By Kiera Suffel
Social work students gather with the canned goods they collected Thursday for the local food bank. From left: Rachel Schoener, Emily Bolen, Raven Wilson and Abby Smarkle. Photo courtesy of Emily Bolen
Bluffton University Social Work Club hosted its annual Trick-or-Canning event on Oct. 27, which coincided with trick-or-treat in Bluffton. Social Work Club members, along with other students, went around town asking people for canned goods to be donated to the Bluffton Food Pantry.
According to Walt Paquin, associate professor of social work, the event has been something the Social Work Club has done for the past five years. The canned goods collected used to be donated to the West Ohio Food Bank in Lima, Ohio, which serves 11 counties. Paquin said they realized there was a need for food locally.
Social Work Club Presiden Emily Bolen
“It is quite amazing to see so many people in the community who are so willing to donate non-perishable items to help others in time for the holiday season,” said Emily Bolen, Social Work Club president. “Also, a huge thank you to Nancy Banman, Walt Paquin and Stan Scott and all of the students who participated because without them it would not have been possible.”
Bolen also said she hoped people would get a better understanding of giving back to the community while enhancing the relationship between the university and the Bluffton community.
“It was really nice to know that we were able to serve the community by simply going around and collecting canned food goods from people to give to the Bluffton Food Pantry,” said Katelyn Gardella, Social Work Club treasurer. “The people of Bluffton seemed very willing to help out, and many of them thanked us for what we were doing.”
One hundred seventy items were collected. Paquin said it was a 40 percent increase from last year.
The event will likely continue on in the future as it has become embedded into the Social Work Club, said Bolen.
