All HandsOn Deck - March 2026

Welcome to the March newsletter! We hope everyone had an amazing spring break! We know we did, and we can’t wait to tell you about the Alternative Break our amazing volunteers participated in. Check out the rest of the newsletter for upcoming volunteer opportunities on and off campus.

Didn't receive an email? Sign up to receive this newsletter via email

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.

Green Bandana Project Training - THRIVE Navigators

Thrive Navigators are an on-campus group dedicated to bringing awareness to mental health resources on campus as well as reducing the stigma that surrounds mental health. One of the ways they do this is through their Green Bandana Project.

Once a student completes a ~45 minute mental health awareness training with a THRIVE presenter, they receive a green bandana to tie to their backpack. This bandana signals to other students that this person is a safe and educated person to confide in about mental health issues, and that this person is aware of official resources to suggest as well. April is Mental Health Awareness month, so it’s the perfect time to get your training and receive your bandana!

If you are interested in getting your green bandana, you can look at their website or sign up for training March 24, or April 13.

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

Annual Rock Springs Volunteer Work Day

Every year, the Rock Springs 4H camp brings in volunteers to help revamp and prep the ranch for the upcoming summer’s excited campers. If you are interested in getting in a fun day of trail clearing, cabin painting, or other maintenance activities, Rock Springs is looking for as many volunteers as possible for their Work Day on April 25th. If you aren’t sure about your availability yet, we will advertise this event in the April newsletter as well!

Sign up to volunteer here. Visit the Rock Springs Ranch website to learn more.

Community Gardening

Work alongside the Peaceful Pantry and the Flint Hills Breadbasket to help with a community garden. As a volunteer you will help build a raised bed, prep soil, and more! No previous gardening experience is required!

This opportunity will be 9 a.m. - noon, Saturday, March 28, at the Flint Hills Breadbasket, located at 2326 Skyvue Lane.

Email peacefullpantry@gmail.com for more information.

Open Innovation Challenge - UFWH

This program from Universities Fighting World Hunger offers funding for teams looking to improve current food system structures, concentrating on smallholder farmers, rural communities, and indigenous populations. The program encourages visionary approaches and new ideas for building sustainable food structures across these domains. Funding can reach up to $360,000 per team submission.

Applications are due March 18. Learn more about the Open Innovation Challenge here.

MAC and Cheese Arts and Music Festival - Manhattan Art Center

The Manhattan Art Center is proud to be hosting their annual Arts and Music Festival, a free attendance community event that features local art for sale 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 28.

They are currently searching for volunteers that would be interested in assisting with the event. If you are looking for a fun service event or have a passion for the arts, this is the event for you!You can learn more about the Manhattan Art Center and their events on Learn more about the Manhattan Arts Center here, or sign up to volunteer for the Arts and Music Festival here.

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...

This month, we have been gearing up for our Spring Alternative Break volunteering opportunities! This is an incredible program that K-State offers to combine Spring Break travel with amazing ways to volunteer and strengthen leadership qualities.

This year, our 13 amazing volunteers headed out to participate in community collaboration in Dallas, Texas, and work alongside Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. We can’t wait to tell you all about their experiences in next month’s newsletter, but while you wait, check out the Alt Breaks website to read about past experiences from our awesome Wildcat volunteers!

Thanks for reading the March edition of All HandsOn Deck.

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