Food Insecurity - Forgotten Harvest C-Day Events
By: Nurayda Albeez
Edited By: Janvi Kulchania
Affecting millions of people globally and hundreds of families in Troy, food insecurity is one of Troy's biggest problems. Imagine having an almost empty pantry and a rumbling stomach every day. The only food you receive is the food given to you at school through breakfast and lunch. Dinner and the weekends are very difficult, but you manage on some soup cans and cereal. This is the lifestyle many in Troy are living.
In order to help out, juniors and seniors here at IAE spent a day at Forgotten Harvest Farms in Fenton. They helped harvest several vegetables including carrots, kale, and cabbage. Altogether, 31,407 pounds of vegetables were harvested. This can help feed over 34,000 people. The opportunity not only taught students about food insecurity, but about agricultural and nutritional science. To get the volunteers’ perspective, we interviewed juniors and seniors about their experience at Forgotten Harvest.
One student said that it was very relaxing and made her more aware about the difficulties of farming. She realized that “People pick vegetables every single day in the sun to support their families.”
In order to help out, juniors and seniors here at IAE spent a day at Forgotten Harvest Farms in Fenton. They helped harvest several vegetables including carrots, kale, and cabbage. Altogether, 31,407 pounds of vegetables were harvested. This can help feed over 34,000 people. The opportunity not only taught students about food insecurity, but about agricultural and nutritional science. To get the volunteers’ perspective, we interviewed juniors and seniors about their experience at Forgotten Harvest.
One student said that it was very relaxing and made her more aware about the difficulties of farming. She realized that “People pick vegetables every single day in the sun to support their families.”
(continued from previous paragraph) Another student said that “It was strenuous work.” and recalled that there were only 2 employees so the organization relied heavily on volunteers. This made students aware of what a single volunteer is capable of. Ultimately, students felt a lot of gratitude and appreciation for the people who grow food for them and for their own lifestyles.
The only way to end food insecurity in our community is by supporting local food programs. Nelson Mandela once said, “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. You can be that generation. Let your greatness blossom.” I would like to convey this message to you, my reader, so you know that you have the ability to end food insecurity in your community with a simple act of supporting a food program near you
The only way to end food insecurity in our community is by supporting local food programs. Nelson Mandela once said, “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. You can be that generation. Let your greatness blossom.” I would like to convey this message to you, my reader, so you know that you have the ability to end food insecurity in your community with a simple act of supporting a food program near you