Briefs: North Central State College award, produce distribution, Madison senior luncheon
North Central State College earns Purple Star award
COLUMBUS — Randy Gardner, chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, Wednesday named the latest group of Ohio colleges and universities designated as Collegiate Purple Star campuses for their efforts to support students with military backgrounds. They include North Central State College.
This latest group of five Collegiate Purple Star campuses increases to 51 the number of schools that have earned the designation since 2022.
Ohio was the first state in the nation to offer these designations, which advance the work already done by Ohio’s Pre-K-12 school system to create the Purple Star designation for those schools that worked to become military friendly.
Criteria for being chosen as a Purple Star college or university include having a dedicated military/veteran point of contact and/or office on campus, establishing priority registration for veterans and servicemembers, surveying student veterans and servicemembers — along with spouses and dependents — about needs and challenges, and allowing for the establishment of student-led groups and organizations for veterans and servicemembers. Colleges and universities that earn the Collegiate Purple Star designation will receive permission from the advisory committee to utilize a logo or badge signifying the designation.
Free produce distribution on Tuesday
First English Lutheran Church, 53 Park Ave. W., at South Mulberry Street, Mansfield, offers a free produce drive-thru distribution on the second Tuesday of the month, April through November. The next distribution will be 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The church receives more than 8,000 pounds of fresh produce for the distribution, which is open to everyone. Participants must show a state ID, driver's license or proof of residence.
First English volunteers will load the produce in the back or trunk of each vehicle. This is the final distribution until the second Tuesday in April.
For more information, call the church at 419-522-0662.
Madison High School plans senior citizens luncheons
Madison Comprehensive High School will host two luncheons for senior citizens on Nov. 16 at the high school’s Ramble Inn, 600 Esley Lane. The first will be at 11 a.m., and the second will be at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $8 per lunch.
Reservations must be made by noon on Tuesday. Call the board office at 419-589-2600, Ext. 65001, or email rlyons@madisonrams.net to make a reservation.
Support local food banks with donated venison
COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife is once again partnering with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry to support local food banks with donated venison. Through this program, FHFH and participating processors donate harvested deer to charitable organizations throughout Ohio.
Hunters who harvest a deer and would like to donate the venison can bring it to one of 26 certified deer processing shops in Ohio. One harvested deer yields approximately 50 pounds of venison and 200 meals.
Find the complete list of processors accepting donations of harvested deer at feedingthehungry.org. Hunters who donate their deer are not required to pay for the processing of the venison.
Mansfield News Journal
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: North Central State College Purple Star award, free produce, luncheon
