All HandsOn Deck - February 2026

Happy spring semester and welcome to the February newsletter! Check out the rest of the newsletter for upcoming volunteer opportunities on and off campus.

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On-Campus Opportunities

Mobile Food Distributions

In partnership with Harvesters of Topeka, HandsOn will be hosting Mobile Food Distributions on Friday, March 27, and Friday, April 10. The distributions will take place in parking lot C1 (north of the K-State Rec Center). All are welcome to come and receive food, serving from 4-5 p.m.

At our Feb. 13 event, an intake process for all particpants of Harvesters food distributions began. If you plan to attend upcoming HandsOn Mobile Food Distributions, please read about the intake process on our website.

Volunteers are needed from 3:30-5:30 p.m. and will help distribute food, register patrons, and direct traffic. Volunteer spots are limited, so register soon.

Register to volunteer at this link.

If you have any questions, email HandsOn at handson@ksu.edu.

Cats' Cupboard

Cats' Cupboard is always looking for more volunteers to assist with various tasks in their pantry. It is a great opportunity to do service to increase food security, and it directly impacts K-State students. With just two-hour shifts, it’s a quick and easy way to add some volunteering into your schedule.

To learn more, you can look at the Cats' Cupboard website and sign up under their Volunteers tab, or you sign up to volunteer at this link!

Off-Campus Opportunities

Manhattan Public Library

The annual book sale is returning to the Manhattan Public Library! The sale will be hosted the weekend of Feb. 28.

Volunteers are needed to help set up the sale. They will assist with placing books on tables and organizing the sale area before it opens to the public. This is a great opportunity to earn volunteer or service hours while supporting the library and the community. No prior experience is needed—just a positive attitude and a willingness to help.

What you’ll be doing:

• Placing books on tables
• Helping organize and prepare the sale space
• Working with library staff and fellow volunteers

Volunteers will help out on Thursday, Feb. 26. You can register to volunteer here.

Email brandyn.mcdonald@gmail.com with any questions.

Community Collaborations International - BFF Puerto Rico

Are you interested in volunteering, disaster relief, and beautiful places? CCI’s Better Future For Puerto Rico might be the perfect opportunity! This nonprofit provides important service for disaster relief, environmental protection, and human service projects in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.

If you want to learn more about CCI and their many wonderful initiatives, visit the CCI website, or go directly to their Spring Volunteers Sign Up page.

Working On Wellness Foundation

The Working On Wellness Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and providing free accessible chair-based exercise lessons, is looking for volunteers! They are looking for people to host zoom sessions and engage participants before playing their pre-recorded workout.

Learn more at the Working on Wellness Foundation website.

PeaceFull Pantry

PeaceFull Pantry is looking for volunteers to help stock food pantry shelves on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9-10 a.m. This could be a one time or recurring opportunity.

Or, you could help shoppers navigate the pantry at the following times:

• 1:45-4:15 p.m. Sunday
  
• 4:45-7:15 p.m Monday
  
• 1:45-7:15 p.m. Tuesday
• 4:45-7:15 p.m. Thursday
  

The PeaceFull Pantry is located at 2500 Kimball Ave., Manhattan, Kansas 66502

Email Amy Meng at peacefullpantry@gmail.com to volunteer.

Learn more about the Peacefull Pantry here.

HandsOn Updates

Here's what HandsOn has been up to...

Mobile Food Distribution

On Feb. 13, HandsOn hosted a Mobile Food Distribution. We are always greatful to our team of volunteers who help make the work possible.

More than 40 volunteers helped distribute more than 8,000 Ibs. of food to the Manhattan community.

 

Meet the Coordinators!

HandsOn Kansas State is managed in part by a team of amazing undergraduate students at the Staley School of Leadership. Their passion for community, service-learning, and collaboration comes through with every event HandsOn hosts. Take a moment to learn a little bit about our team that makes this work possible.

Campbell McNorton is a senior earning a double-major in Global Food System Leadership and Social Transformation Studies, with minors in Queer Studies, Leadership Studies, and the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate. She is graduating college in May, and is most looking forward to passing on her extensive knowledge of HandsOn.

 

Ashlyn Simonson is a sophomore, earning a double-major in Environmental Science and Geography, with a minor in Spanish and the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate. She has always been passionate about service, and she is most looking forward to planning and implementing new events for K-State student volunteers!

 

 

Ava Gustin is a freshman, earning a Social Transformation Studies major on the pre-medicine track, with a Nonprofit Leadership Certificate. She participated in service organizations all through high school, and she is most excited to serve her community and get to know our amazing HandsOn volunteers!

 

Thanks for reading the February edition of All HandsOn Deck.

 

Email the HandsOn Kansas State Team with any questions regarding the enewsletter.