When you have a birthday, you generally get the gifts, right? This year is the 100^th birthday of the library’s 1924 building but we’re not asking you to give us gifts. Instead, would you give a birthday gift to the Center of Hope? Keep reading and we’ll explain.

Winning the Hunger Challenge

April is the month for the Hunger Challenge, a competition between the cities of Kent and Ravenna to see who can collect more food and monetary donations: the Center of Hope or Kent Social Services. It’s a friendly competition where everyone wins and the prize is taking care of our respective communities.

Each April at the library, we support the Hunger Challenge by collecting items for the Center of Hope and giving you money off your late fees for donating food items. Since this year is the 100^th birthday of our 1924 building, our goal is to collect 1,924 non-perishable items and raise $1,924 in monetary support.

Food for fines

We’ll still give you $1 off any late fees you may have for each non-perishable food item that you donate, through April 30th. Win-win!

How do I give a gift?

When you donate, please bring it to our checkout desk. If you want credit toward your late fees, let the staff know first so that we can apply it to your account. If your gift is monetary, you can add it to our giant collection jar. We’ll visually track our progress with Cornelius and Cora moving down the iconic front steps of that 1924 building.

It’s an ambitious goal but not unrealistic. On an average day, 300 of you come through the library doors. If only half of you brought either a dollar or one food item when you visit, we’d easily exceed our goal by the end of the month!

Please help us celebrate our building’s birthday and give a gift to support the vulnerable in our community. Will you help the Center of Hope win the hunger challenge by giving a 100^th birthday donation?