UNK VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION TO RECEIVE FREEDOM AWARD FROM KEARNEY HUB TUESDAY, APRIL 17

Megan Boss
coordinator, Campus Kitchen at University of Nebraska at Kearney, bossml@unk.edu
 

The Campus Kitchen at the University of Nebraska at Kearney will receive the Kearney Hub’s annual Freedom Award for “outstanding volunteerism” Tuesday, April 17, at 6:30 p.m.

Marty Demoret, student coordinator of the organization, will accept the award at the 17th Annual Freedom Awards banquet. Demoret is a senior psychology major from Scottsbluff.

Megan Boss, Bellwood graduate student coordinator of the Campus Kitchen, said the award gives the organization and its volunteers much-needed recognition.

“To be recognized by this award for doing something good in the community is great,” Boss said. “Seeing that all of our volunteers’ hard work is being recognized is very valuable to us.”

Volunteers with the Campus Kitchen prepare and deliver meals to area residents in need through the use of donated food. Thus far, the organization has delivered more than 2,000 meals and has logged more than 2,500 volunteer hours.

“The Campus Kitchen hopes to continue this collaboration between UNK and the Kearney community in aiding those who are less fortunate,” Boss said. “Receiving the Freedom Award assists us in this endeavor.”

The organization is the only Campus Kitchen in the nation that is run entirely by students. Members of the Leadership Team include Boss and Demoret, as well as Cari Gruszczynski and Mike Gruszczynski, both of Broken Bow; Jaime Wendt and Lindsey Wendt, both of Gering; Cody Waldman, Hickman; Jenna Rycek, Kearney; Elizabeth Weaver, Maywood; Jill Schwarting, Meadow Grove; Jason Gould, Odessa; Brian Shreves, Omaha; Felipe Longoria, Scottsbluff; Tyler Anderson and John Jensen, both of Wayne; and Ryan Hare, Dallas, Texas.

Tickets for the 17th Annual Freedom Awards banquet are $15 each, and must be purchased by Thursday, April 12. They can be purchased at the Kearney Hub,or by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Kearney Hub, P.O. Box 1988, Kearney, NE 68847.