MINNEAPOLIS – FEBRUARY 21, 2018 – MATTER announced the launch of a unique effort partnering with Cheerios™ to engage students and other volunteers at 50 college campuses in 26 states, all during the same week. The goal is to help improve the health of these communities by packing 30,000 healthy snack packs, along with providing nutrition education, through the MATTERbox program.
Between February 26 and March 2, 2018, each campus location will be packing 300 MATTERboxes with two snack packs including General Mills items such as Whole Grain Cheerios, Nature Valley Bars and Lärabars. Once packed, the MATTERboxes will be distributed locally to schools, after-school programs, and health care providers.
“We couldn’t be more delighted to partner with MATTER and our brands, Cheerios, Nature Valley and Laräbar as part of the Cheerios™ Good Goes Round Campaign, to feed those in need in more than 50 communities nationwide,” said Mary Jane Melendez, executive director of the General Mills Foundation. “This partnership so closely ties to our philanthropic focus areas of strengthening hometown communities and ending hunger. And equally important is inspiring college students to see how wonderful it feels to do an act of good for those in their community.”
Students participating in the event are excited, with the sentiments of many reflected in comments like those of this sophomore at Worcester State University, “Being a part of the community is more than giving back, it is being able to help and understand the world around us. Community engagement is something everyone should do. It brings joy, happiness and pure peace. I have done many different community engagement projects and each one has added value to my life experience. I hope to change the world even if it’s one project at a time. I have grown to be involved and care for others like many have cared for me. Growing up in Lawrence, Massachusetts you don’t have much and it takes those people giving back to keep us going in the right path. I hope to continue the chain reaction and give back when it is needed.”
The novel MATTERbox program strives to activate healthy eating for kids and families through innovative partnerships serving local communities. Quenton Marty, President of MATTER, commented, “Joining together with dedicated partners like Cheerios™ that want to make a real difference allows increased access to healthy food and broadens the reach of nutrition education to many more people. We are grateful for Cheerios™ and General Mills, as well as all of the colleges that joined us in this effort!”
For a list of all participating campus locations, visit the MATTER website:
MATTERbox Goes National to Increase Access to Healthy Eating