Marshall is a very small community of approximately 13,000 people with a poverty rate of 19.8%. This small town is home to Missouri Valley College (MVC). MVC offers a Humanities class also known as Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA). This is a student-led club where you volunteer and get involved in the community. This is led by Professor Jamie Gold, who is a very active member of the Marshall community.
Joining the Food Recovery Network and addressing the hunger in the local community has been something Jamie Gold had envisioned for a long time. With her vision and dedicated students, Missouri Valley became an official FRN chapter during the Spring of 2019. The MVC Food Recovery Chapter partnered with Fresh Ideas which is the cafeteria on campus. Fresh Ideas has always been a supporter and willing to help MVC FRN Chapter in any way possible.
Mission Possible:
While 2020 was full of obstacles for everyone, the MVC FRN chapter utilized this time to grow so they could operate at a larger level. During this time, they were able to secure a grant and now operate out of their very own building. The building has allowed the MVC FRN Chapter to take their recoveries and package them into individual meals using the food sealer. Prior to the building, the food was packaged in the cafeteria and then distributed. With having a building they are able to store the meals on-site.
Image: MVC-FRN Chapter new packaging
Additionally, the annual Silent Auction was held virtually for the 2020 year. While the fundraiser looked different than the prior year, it was still very successful. During the 2019 school year the Trivia Night and Silent Auction, the MVC FRN Chapter raised $7,000.00. Due to the pandemic, there was no Trivia Night. Even without the Trivia Night $4,000.00 was still raised. One of the big items was a signed Travis Kelce football! Proceeds from the fundraisers were used to address hunger in the community.
Image: Steven Sims President of NLA and Savannah Land President of MVC-FRN Chapter loading food from a recovery
Where we are today:
NLA has established strong relationships in the community especially with their food partner Fresh Ideas and their distribution partner Missouri Valley Community Action Agency. Without the partnerships and the support of the community, NLA would not be able to fill the plates for 50 families every week. They are able to store food on-site as well as seal individual meals using their food sealer.
Image: Savannah Land FRN President using the food sealer to seal the food recovered
On February 14th, the FRN chapter recovered 222 pounds of food in 2 weeks’ time, which is equivalent to 180 sealed trays! The President of the MVC chapter is Savannah Land who describes the food sealer as a “game-changer!” The chapter also does online engagements such as “Sampling with Steven.” This is a time where NLA President Steven samples a food item that they have recovered and gives it a thumbs up or down. So far Steven has had great things about the items they have recovered!
We are now 3 months into the 2021 year and MVC Food Recovery Chapter has already recovered 820 pounds of food! That is 820 pounds of food that would have ended up in the landfill, but instead is going to feed people experiencing hunger in the community. Thanks to the support of community partners, the MVC Food Recovery Chapter is working to address hunger in the community. If you are ever in Marshall you can find NLA operating out of 166 Court Street in Marshall, MO. You can also follow them on social media:
Facebook: MVC Non-Profit Leadership Alliance
Instagram: @mvc_nonprofit