St. Davids, PA: On Sunday, September 27, Eastern University partnered with Rise Against Hunger to package 20,000 meals to fight global hunger.
Rise Against Hunger is a nonprofit organization on a mission to help underserved people worldwide achieve food security and resilience through nutrition, education, and economic empowerment. The organization partners with volunteers to advance this mission.
This event was the result of a collaboration between Eastern’s Center for Academic Planning & Empowerment (CAPE) and Student Engagement. Together, the two departments gathered first-year students taking INST 150, Eastern’s First-Year Seminar course (“Introduction to Faith, Reason, and Justice”), together on campus for a day of service.
“The CAPE team is thrilled to provide regular on-campus service opportunities as part of INST 150. We want first-year students’ experience to be meaningful as well as accessible, and partnering with Rise Against Hunger allowed them to make a global impact right from the heart of campus.”
More than 145 students participated, gathering in the Dining Commons for the event. Eastern’s student chaplains helped with setup before students began working in stations to fill, measure, seal, label, and pack meals. With guidance from Rise Against Hunger representatives, students worked together to complete all 20,000 meals in just one hour and seven minutes.
“Despite the rainy weather, students brought energy and enthusiasm to the event. Overall, it was a fantastic example of students coming together for service, community, and a great cause. I’m really proud of how the event came together and grateful to everyone who helped make it happen!”
As a part of Eastern’s commitment to making a positive impact on the world, traditional undergraduate students take INST 150 during their first semester and are required to complete eight hours of community service, with an opportunity for extra credit for up to six additional hours.
The event reflects Eastern’s mission to provide students with meaningful opportunities to serve others and make a difference in their communities and around the world.