On Sunday, January 6th, pantry director Matthew Bolton and program assistant Arielle Kroser gave presentations on hunger and food insecurity to Beth El Congregation K-7 grade religious school students. The presentations also suggested what people can do to help in their community. We showed several videos focusing on food insecurity, what the experience of going to the food pantry was like and what volunteering looked like at a food bank or pantry.
The students asked very thoughtful questions regarding hunger and its prevalence in our community. For instance, the video on food insecurity (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeI7Tu8aePs) asks: which would you choose if you were low on money and it was the end of the month, food or gas? Students responded that maybe you could buy only half a tank of gas, or perhaps get a ride from somebody to work, or maybe take the bus or ride a bike.
Although the situations were completely hypothetical, they allowed students to imagine the mindset of someone who is food insecure. The students gained a greater empathy for the people who have to ask these questions in their real lives. A big thanks to Beth El for hosting us and being wonderful participants!