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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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Participants in Monday’s Oxfam Hunger Banquet brought canned food items to donate to one of many food pantries in —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky
FeaturedLifestyles

Starving participants for the cause

Guest Author

Imagine not knowing when you would have a full meal next. For many people in our world, knowing where the next meal is coming from and when it is coming is a luxury. Those people who don’t have that luxury are typically pictured to live in famine-ridden countries, but it may surprise some to find out that people in every single community in the United State are suffering from hunger.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, an estimated one in nine people suffered from chronic undernourishment in 2012-2014. And of these people, many are children. It is estimated that malnutrition is a cause of 3.1 million child deaths each year, according to the World Hunger Education Service.

That may seem far away to many readers, but hunger is closer to home than many think. According to Feeding America,

Kurt Kinbacher, social and communication arts instructor, signs up to learn more about Oxfam Monday during the Oxfam Hunger Banquet at the Student Center Ballroom. —Photo by Sarah Townsend
Kurt Kinbacher, social and communication arts instructor, signs up to learn more about Oxfam Monday during the Oxfam Hunger Banquet at the Student Center Ballroom. —Photo by Sarah Townsend

one in eight people in Nebraska struggle with hunger. In Dawes County alone, the United States Census Bureau estimates that about 19.3 percent of people, or 1,745 individuals, are living below the poverty level. Because poverty is one cause of hunger, it can be concluded that almost 20 percent of the people living in Dawes County are suffering from hunger.

At the Oxfam Hunger Banquet, Monday night in the Student Center Ballroom, many CSC students, staff, faculty and Chadron residents experienced what life would be like in certain economic situations that people live in around the world and in our own community.

“The statistics provided were alarming and grabbed my attention,” a participant at the banquet, Jordon Cooper, 22, senior of Big Piney, Wyoming, said. “It really puts it in perspective when most of us are appalled to eat rice on the floor when a lot of third world country citizens walk 10 plus miles just to get drinkable water for the day.”

The evening began with an introduction from CSC Communications Professor Shaunda French. Students in French’s Event Planning and Leadership classes organized the event to spread awareness and learn more about hunger in the world and in the area.

“I’m very proud how the event went and I commend the students on the great work they did,” French said. “It’s a civic engagement class and it’s the first time I taught this course in the fall. We normally focus on The Big Event in this class, but being in the fall, we needed an event to focus on. I’m hoping the Hunger Banquet can be an addition to The Big Event to make it another annual event.”Evaluations

“It was very eye opening event for the students because they don’t understand how serious hunger is and how many people it truly affects,” a students from the class, Brandon Pippenger, 21, senior of Banning, California, said.

Pastor Ann Sundberg of Immanuel Lutheran Church talked about local statistics for hunger. She also mentioned that there are multiple food pantries in Chadron where people can donate to help those in need. Sundberg and the Immanuel Lutheran Church run one of the food pantries. Those who attended the event brought canned food items to donate to the pantry.

“The event raised awareness of the hunger and poverty present in the world,” Chelsea Lukasiewicz, 20, junior of Fort Calhoun, CA 239 student, said.

Then students from CA 239 initiated a scenario for the attendees. Those who had been invited to the event were given cards with information about a person who was his or her character of either high, middle, or low income for the night.

The students told each income group—high, middle and low—what the meal would be for the night. Some lucky

Participants in Monday’s Oxfam Hunger Banquet were given a character card at the door, which assigned them as either high income, middle income, or low income. Participants were directed where to sit based on their card. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky
Participants in Monday’s Oxfam Hunger Banquet were given a character card at the door, which assigned them as either high income, middle income, or low income. Participants were directed where to sit based on their card. —Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky

individuals got moved from low to middle, and some found that misfortune was in their cards, and they had to move to the low-income group. The high-income group was seated at a fancy, plated table with a full meal, the middle group was at a long table and given a buffet of rice, beans and water, and the low group was seated on the floor and given a small plate of rice and water.

Individuals who attended the event said that they were impacted by the event and were impressed with the visual representation.

Participants of the banquet included those ranging in all ages and from all kinds of different backgrounds. Each student in the CA 239 classes were required to invite one adult and one student to the event. CSC students, members of CSC faculty and administration, and grade school kids all participated.