Spaghetti dinner staves off hunger in Ohio
Ashley Schorkhuber
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: News
Capital students broke bread over the growing hunger issues in Ohio at a spaghetti dinner Wednesday Nov. 11.
The Fuller Society, an organization dedicated to understanding the structure and social issues of American society, hosted the event.
The people affected by hunger and poverty aren't necessarily inactive.
Of the 1.6 million people served at food pantries, one in three families has at least one working adult.
"Poverty and homelessness is a single mother with two kids trying to make ends meet," according to Zach Reat, central regional coordinator of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks. "[It] is a 55-year-old war veteran on the side of the road holding up a sign saying 'Will work for food.'"
Three of the ten poorest cities in America can be found in Ohio.
Representative David Drumm of the Lutheran Social Services turns these numbers into people.
Drumm furthers the initiative of creating a better world by serving people in need with his management of LSS Food Pantry South, the largest food bank in Ohio.
Spearheading the "dignity of choice" food plan in Ohio, Drumm's objective is to understand the people he is serving.
"Dignity of choice" allows families in need to go to local pantries and "shop" for what they need rather than being rationed food.
Many other pantries around the country are also starting similar, dignity of choice programs.
On volunteering, Drumm said, "If it makes you feel good, then do it."
Whether it's buying your favorite breakfast food for the pantry or donating that extra 10-pack of toothpaste, every little bit helps.
With 400 volunteers a month, Drumm also encourages volunteers to "start a dialogue with people [because chances are] they need to talk."
His pantry, located in Gahanna, Ohio also holds formal nutrition classes every Tuesday and Thursday as well as stress management class on Wednesdays.
After asking the audience to recall a mental image of poverty, Reat gave a face to hunger with a motivational video sponsored by Feeding America.
"That one box of food means more than I can tell you," one woman on the screen said tearfully.
This visual representation of poverty struck a chord among students.
"It hit me like a ton of bricks. I wasn't expecting it," Fuller Society President Darius Fequiere, junior, said.
"[It] was tear-jerking," freshman Kassie Lowery said.
"I didn't realize there were so many people in need," added Kyle Fowler, a fellow freshman.
Fuller Society was able to raise an estimate of $754 in pre-sale tickets alone to be donated to the cause.
Representative Deborah Chapman said the money raised by Capital would be matched by the Macy's franchise.
The final total will be divided locally and nationally: 75 percent will be distributed among food pantries in Ohio and 25 percent will be distributed throughout the country.
As Feeding America said, "You are the change; you have the eyes to see."
By Ashley Schorkhuber
Contributor
aschorkh@capital.edu
The Fuller Society, an organization dedicated to understanding the structure and social issues of American society, hosted the event.
The people affected by hunger and poverty aren't necessarily inactive.
Of the 1.6 million people served at food pantries, one in three families has at least one working adult.
"Poverty and homelessness is a single mother with two kids trying to make ends meet," according to Zach Reat, central regional coordinator of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks. "[It] is a 55-year-old war veteran on the side of the road holding up a sign saying 'Will work for food.'"
Three of the ten poorest cities in America can be found in Ohio.
Representative David Drumm of the Lutheran Social Services turns these numbers into people.
Drumm furthers the initiative of creating a better world by serving people in need with his management of LSS Food Pantry South, the largest food bank in Ohio.
Spearheading the "dignity of choice" food plan in Ohio, Drumm's objective is to understand the people he is serving.
"Dignity of choice" allows families in need to go to local pantries and "shop" for what they need rather than being rationed food.
Many other pantries around the country are also starting similar, dignity of choice programs.
On volunteering, Drumm said, "If it makes you feel good, then do it."
Whether it's buying your favorite breakfast food for the pantry or donating that extra 10-pack of toothpaste, every little bit helps.
With 400 volunteers a month, Drumm also encourages volunteers to "start a dialogue with people [because chances are] they need to talk."
His pantry, located in Gahanna, Ohio also holds formal nutrition classes every Tuesday and Thursday as well as stress management class on Wednesdays.
After asking the audience to recall a mental image of poverty, Reat gave a face to hunger with a motivational video sponsored by Feeding America.
"That one box of food means more than I can tell you," one woman on the screen said tearfully.
This visual representation of poverty struck a chord among students.
"It hit me like a ton of bricks. I wasn't expecting it," Fuller Society President Darius Fequiere, junior, said.
"[It] was tear-jerking," freshman Kassie Lowery said.
"I didn't realize there were so many people in need," added Kyle Fowler, a fellow freshman.
Fuller Society was able to raise an estimate of $754 in pre-sale tickets alone to be donated to the cause.
Representative Deborah Chapman said the money raised by Capital would be matched by the Macy's franchise.
The final total will be divided locally and nationally: 75 percent will be distributed among food pantries in Ohio and 25 percent will be distributed throughout the country.
As Feeding America said, "You are the change; you have the eyes to see."
By Ashley Schorkhuber
Contributor
aschorkh@capital.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
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posted 11/26/09 @ 3:58 AM EST
We forget so often that there are so many people for who one box of food means more you can imagine.
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