Daniel Asare was awarded the Outstanding Volunteer Award by Jack & Jill of America for his volunteer work with Connecticut Food Share, which has been hosted biweekly at North United Methodist Church since his freshman year. The award is for his volunteer efforts from last academic year. He estimates he has logged between 300 to 400 hours.

During Asare’s freshman year, he took a Global Cities class where he was assigned a project to improve an organization or aspect of Hartford. When he learned that Hartford has a significant number of food deserts, areas in neighborhoods that don’t have access to quality, nutritious food, he felt he needed to act. While researching, he discovered the organization Food Share, which was already established to counter food insecurity, and he decided to participate.

“The Food Share also works in my church,” he said, “and I felt it was important to help out in my community. So many people need help, and they are from every walk of life.”

While there, Asare packs bags of food, unpacks crates of goods, and sorts them. Since the organization is located up two flights of stairs, Asare carries the bags down for the elderly clients. He said during the recent government shutdown, the shelves were nearly bare since the organization wasn’t receiving its usual allotment of government-distributed food.

Asare said the organization is always looking for volunteers and encourages our students to assist. He is a fine example of living our core values of “care beyond self.”