Kansas Hunger Dialogue Participants Package 10K Outreach Meals for Local Hunger!
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Kansas college and university students gathered in Wichita, Kansas on March 1stfor the 5th Annual Kansas Hunger Dialogue (KHD) and packaged 10,000 Mac & Cheese meals for local distribution. This event, sponsored by Volunteer Kansas, was coordinated by Outreach’s Regional Manager in Kansas, Isaac McNary.
The KHD brings together students, faculty, and administrators from across Kansas to have a conversation that matters about hunger. Students and faculty do presentations and panel discussions on various activities on their campuses in regards to alleviating hunger. Service activities are combined with research and community engagement creating impact both for students and the community.
The KHD began in Kansas five years ago in a partnership with Universities Fighting World Hunger based at Auburn University. Outreach VP of Private and Public Partnerships, Rick McNary, said, “When we first started this in 2010, we were told it was impossible to get colleges and universities together. However, we discovered what we assumed: hunger is an issue that encourages people to lay aside political and territorial tendencies to join together to solve the problem of hunger. We know we have to work together to make that happen so we have involvement from all corners of the state.”
Nola Brown, Executive Director of Volunteer Kansas said, “It was such a pleasure getting to work with students and community members who have a heart for the hungry and are willing to give of their time to help meet what is unfortunately a much too local need. And, what a positive experience it was working with the good people at Outreach and Newman University who took care of the many details that made the event such a great success.”
Rosemary Niedens, Associate V.P. Academic Services and Student Development had this to say, “Our recent meal packaging event is a very natural fit with Newman University culture. We were privileged to be able to serve in this way but there is a larger benefit in packaging events for students as well as universities. An interactive packaging event is fun and exciting for students but concurrently many are introduced for the first time to the specter of hunger in our world. The packaging of meals serves many hungry people but the impact on the conscience and future actions of students involved is immeasurable. Through packaging with students, universities are uniquely qualified to grow awareness and disquiet about hungry people.”
The food went to TOPs, His Helping Hands, and the Kansas Food Bank.
For more information about having a meal-packaging event email info@outreachprogram.org or call 641-486-2550
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