Oxfam message: hunger’s no game

When directed, Kris Boardman, associate director of housing at Chadron State, walked from his seat on the floor of the Scottsbluff room, Monday, to the far corner where he loaded a single plate with plain white rice and took a small glass of water. 

Not much more than 20 feet away, Chadron resident Judd Hageman had a different dinner experience. Hageman sat at a well-appointed table; his meal – chicken cordon bleu and a salad, with chocolate cake for desert – was served to him by CSC food services staff.  

Hageman and Boardman were one of several guests attending Monday’s Oxfam Hunger Banquet hosted by CSC’s Event Planning and Leadership class. Upon arriving, guests were separated into three classes: low, middle and high. Each class was offered a different dining experience based on their class and listened and discussed issues of poverty and food insecurity. 

“It really opens your eyes to what’s happening in the real world,” Boardman said. “You never really know at the time when you’re sitting eating a five-course meal that someone else is eating an ounce of rice.”

About 40 million people live in poverty in the United States and 15 million suffer from food insecurity according to the U.S Department of Agriculture. 

Monday’s experience was meant to simulate the disparity in food security experienced by Americans and educate guests on the issue. 

The event featured speakers Erin Norman, assistant professor of applied sciences, and Karen Eisenbarth, chief executive officer at Northwest Community Action Partnerships. Both spoke on the challenges of hunger both at the national and local level. Katelyn Lambert, one of two masters of ceremonies, expressed the need for introspection.

“I hope that people got a better understanding on what happens nationally and locally when it comes to food insecurity.” Lambert said. “People take for granted the kinds of luxuries they have that others don’t – things like getting two or three meals a day.”