Helping Like a Hog: U of A Alumni in Houston Volunteer at Food Bank

Photo by Arkansas Alumni Association

Houston Alumni Chapter and University of Arkansas Staff volunteers pose for group photo during a community service event at the Houston Food Bank.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Members of the Houston Alumni Chapter of the Arkansas Alumni Association gathered at the Houston Food Bank last month for a Helping Like a Hog community service event. Working alongside Chancellor Joseph E. and Sandra Steinmetz, 35 chapter volunteers packed more than 16,200 meals that will be distributed through the Food Bank’s Backpack Buddy program to south Texans  still recovering from Hurricane Harvey.

“We were thrilled to have such a great turnout of alumni to the Houston Food Bank volunteer event,” said Melissa Dixon, Houston Alumni Chapter leader. “Hurricane Harvey affected our city in such a devastating way, and it was rewarding to see so many University of Arkansas alumni come together and give back in such a tremendous way. It was wonderful that Chancellor Steinmetz and Sandy were able to join us as well.”

The project grew out of the desire of many chapter members to help those impacted by last summer’s natural disaster.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.