See how these students are packaging food security solutions
Why are food programmes at universities gaining traction? Source: Shutterstock

Food banks have always been filled with volunteers and charity workers that are willing to go the extra mile to support troubling global food security issues.

By helping out at a food bank or participating with a charity project that supports those in need, not only are you making a monumental difference in someone’s life, you’re also making a huge difference in your own.

As charity days have the power to bring everyone together, it’s a superb opportunity to branch out from your campus bubble and to burst onto the NGO scene.

That’s exactly what’s happening at Harvard University in the US.

According to The Harvard Gazettethe university’s food programme has been met with great success, “Twice a week after dinner, a group of Harvard University student volunteers files into Annenberg Hall’s kitchen and gets to work.

The students take off their jewellery, put up their hair, wash their hands, and form an assembly line to package that day’s surplus food into convenient, individual-sized meals, ready to feed the hungry.”

“And there are a lot of them. Nearly 10 per cent of Massachusetts families – or more than 266,000 households – experience chronic hunger, according to Project Bread’s 2016 status report,” the Harvard Gazette adds.

The gathering of Harvard volunteers at the gates. Source: Shutterstock

Ever since the programme started, it has donated an average of 40,000 of pounds of bulk food donations per year, which equates to 30,700 meals per year!

Instead of ignoring the issues of food security, these students and academic staff have taken matters into their own hands and transformed it into a proactive initiative that spreads positive vibes and mouthwatering meals.

As the programme has the potential to fuse together students from a diverse array of backgrounds, it’s a prime opportunity for any campus to transform into an inclusive learning environment.

That’s what Crista Marti, the UDS Director for Strategic Initiatives and Communications explained to the Harvard Gazette, “Harvard’s students come from all over the world, with very different experiences around food and food access. The Family Meals programme allows them to participate in a very hands-on way with understanding the food system here on campus and how Harvard connects to the local community.”

So, shouldn’t all universities consider the benefits of these feel-good food programmes and follow in this programme’s footsteps by packaging future-proof food security solutions? 

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