Kansas State Fair Partners with Food Bank to Pack 3,000 Meals for Hunger Action Day

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas State Fair will host a community meal-packing event Tuesday, September 9, as part of nationwide Hunger Action Day efforts, aiming to assemble 3,000 family meal kits for Kansas families facing food insecurity.

The event, scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oz Gallery near Gate 1 and the livestock barns, represents a partnership between the Kansas State Fair and the Kansas Food Bank. Organizers are seeking more than 30 volunteers to help pack the meals and will provide free fair admission to participants.

"Together, we'll pack 3,000 meals and share a donation of $25,000 for the Kansas Food Bank… all in one powerful day," organizers announced on the fair's social media pages.

Volunteer opportunities include three shifts: event setup from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., the main meal-packing session from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and cleanup from 1:30 to 2 p.m. The meal-packing session requires the most volunteers, with organizers seeking more than 20 people for that two-hour period.

Volunteers will work on assembly lines to pack food kits, assemble boxes, apply labels and stack completed pallets. Additional roles include welcoming fairgoers to participate and helping with paperwork and raffle entries.

The event coincides with Hunger Action Day, observed annually on the second Tuesday of September as part of Hunger Action Month. The nationwide initiative encourages communities to take action against food insecurity.

Kroger Studios will film segments of the meal-packing event, with media release forms available for participants.

Volunteers can enter a raffle for three $100 Dillons gift cards or point coupons. Organizers recommend closed-toe shoes and casual attire, encouraging participants to wear shirts representing their organizations.

The Kansas State Fair runs Sept. 5-14 and draws more than 300,000 visitors annually to Hutchinson. The fairgrounds are located at 2000 N. Poplar St.

Community members interested in volunteering can sign up through the fair's website, with free admission provided while volunteer slots remain available.