SV senior makes big impact by leading Walk for Hunger
The sixth annual Armstrong Walk for Hunger took place Sunday morning, Sept. 10, at the Zelienople Community Park.
The event is Armstrong’s largest fundraiser for its Breaking Bread initiative, which is intended to fight food insecurity.
The United State Department of Agriculture reported that 32% of households with incomes below the federal poverty line were food insecure in 2021. The 2021 study also noted food insecurity was more common in large cities and rural areas than in suburban areas.
Additionally, a number of studies, show that about a third of college students experience food insecurity.
The Armstrong Walk for Hunger raises money and food donations in various ways for organizations like the Lighthouse Foundation and Butler County Community College.
It’s a big deal all on its own, but its impact is amplified by bringing in students and giving them leadership opportunities.
At Sunday’s event, Cadence Sammon, a senior at Seneca Valley High School, served as the student leader. Her job was to get sponsorships, request gift cards from area businesses, collect raffle baskets and otherwise drum up excitement for the event with students and community members.
About 70 people registered for the walk, which broke the previous record, according to Seth Prentice, community marketing manager for Armstrong.
The event started in 2018 with some help from Julie Kopp, who was then a senior at Seneca Valley. Since then, student involvement has been a component in the walk.
We are excited to see this fundraiser grow for our community organizations that benefit and for the young people who also benefit from participation in the event.
— TL
