Samantha McKenzie

Samantha McKenzie is an SVSU alumna, and President & CEO of Hidden Harvest. She loves working with community leaders and other nonprofits to be able to provide food to people all over the Great Lakes Bay Region who need it most.

SVSU's Alumni Relations Office is collaborating with Hidden Harvest by hosting a volunteer day on November 2, 2023 from 4:00-6:00 PM at Hidden Harvest. Participants will assist with repacking large donations of flour into family-sized Ziploc bags, making the food more accessible to those in need. Sign up for the volunteer day HERE.

Life at SVSU

Samantha's journey at SVSU began with her aunt, a Cardinal herself, introducing her to the beautiful campus. Receiving the prestigious Presidential Scholarship was truly a cherry on top. As a Communications major, Samantha found passion in community engagement through her coursework, even collaborating with a local nonprofit organization in one of her classes. These experiences sparked her interest in the nonprofit sector.

Samantha's involvement at SVSU extended to various clubs, such as the University Scholars Club, Honors Club, and Cardinal Broadcasting Association. Her volunteer work with Hospitality House provided deep fulfillment, and she is grateful for Dr. Robert Drew's mentorship as she completed her honors thesis on mixtape communication.

Life Beyond SVSU

After leaving SVSU, Samantha immediately stepped into the role of Director at Hospitality House, where she served for a decade. She then transitioned to Hidden Harvest as President & CEO and continues to thrive in this position. Above all, Samantha adores collaborating with like-minded people who share a love for helping others – from dedicated employees to enthusiastic volunteers. Her proudest accomplishments include bridging gaps in food accessibility, delivering food faster, and reaching those without reliable transportation.

Hidden Harvest

Hidden Harvest focuses on addressing hunger and reducing food waste in the Great Lakes Bay Region by collecting surplus food items and distributing them amongst shelters, pantries, soup kitchens, and more to those who need it most.

Since its establishment in 1994, Hidden Harvest has successfully provided 50 million pounds of food (equating to 41 million meals) to their community by working closely with over 300 food donors – including SVSU! The lean team of just seven employees thrives with support from dedicated local volunteers. If you have food that you would like to donate, or you are interested in volunteering with Hidden Harvest, you can call them at 989-753-4749 to talk with them about the best way to donate!

SVSU's Alumni Relations Office is collaborating with Hidden Harvest by hosting a volunteer day on November 2, 2023 from 4:00-6:00 PM at Hidden Harvest (940 E. Genesee Ave. Saginaw, MI 48607). Participants will assist with repacking large donations of flour into family-sized Ziploc bags, making the food more accessible to those in need. Sign up for the volunteer day HERE.

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