Colonel Crawford senior’s food drive could lead to scholarship

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GALION — North central Ohio residents helped a Colonel Crawford student’s food drive last summer.

He’s seeking a little more help today, through the end of this month.

Based on the success of his food drive, Galion’s Ken Fernandez applied for a scholarship through Mechanics Bank. He made a video of his achievements and is asking readers to visit a website at www.wishpond.com, look at his video and vote for it.

Based on website visitor votes, seven $1,000 scholarships will be awarded based to students from Mechanics Bank

He is competing against 13 other students, but is the only student in a Crawford County school. Vote at https://www.wishpond.com/lp/1368632/ or follow this link.

Voting ends March 31.

It was one busy summer for Fernandez.

While playing soccer and collecting food as a requirement for his Eagle Scout badge, he also took summer classes so he would be able to be dual enrolled at North Central State College in Mansfield.

He hoped to collect 100 brown paper bags full of food to donate to food pantries in Crawford and Richland counties. His plans changed, however, when he collected 107 bags the first weekend he started.

According to a report he wrote on the experience, Fernandez changed his goal from 100 total bags to 100 bags from each community he visited to collect items.

“I had 15,183 pounds of food in the downstairs of our home. Each room of our house changed its name,” Fernandez said. “The computer room was now the Bucyrus room, the dining room was the Galion and Shelby room, the living room was Crestline and New Washington room and the kitchen was called North Robinson room. A map was almost needed to get around.”

His reasoning for the project was many food banks were out of food due to sending supplies to victims of natural disasters.

“Everyone thinks to help organizations at Christmas, but never during the summer months,” Fernandez said. “This past summer was the worst due to the hurricanes. Local food pantries in our area were critically short due to not getting their normal donations from Cleveland Food Banks. The Cleveland Food Banks were sending their supplies to help the people of Texas.”

He sought the help of multiple organizations and attended many local events such as the Bratwurst Festival, Bucyrus First Fridays, Galion Third Fridays, the Crestline Farmers Market and more.

He also hosted two Fill-The-Jeep events to help victims of Hurricane Harvey and the victims in North Robinson affected by a tornado.

Courtesy photo Colonel Crawford senior Ken Fernandez with the proceeds and donations from one of his Stuff-the-Jeep campaigns to collect food and water for food pantries. Read about Ken’s project and see a video here. There are other video’s there and by voting, you can help determine the distribution of $7,000 in scholarship funds.
http://www.galioninquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2018/03/web1_Ken-Fernandez.jpgCourtesy photo Colonel Crawford senior Ken Fernandez with the proceeds and donations from one of his Stuff-the-Jeep campaigns to collect food and water for food pantries. Read about Ken’s project and see a video here. There are other video’s there and by voting, you can help determine the distribution of $7,000 in scholarship funds.
But he needs readers to watch and vote for a video he produced

 

Staff report

 

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