Hunger Action provides nourishment for community

Jenny Nigro Guest Writer

Just 45 minutes into the Peanut Butter Jam, participants began scraping the bottom of the large containers of peanut butter. Rather than lamenting the low supplies, Hunger Action welcomed the empty vats as a good sign.

The Peanut Butter Jam, held on Nov. 17, marked the beginning of a series of events sponsored by Hunger Action. At the Peanut Butter Jam, Vassar students rocked out to various campus musical groups while making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to distribute among hungry people in the community.

The Peanut Butter Jam was both community service and a social gathering, as students split their time between mingling with each other and making sandwiches.

“We’re trying to raise awareness of hunger both in Poughkeepsie and globally,” said Hunger Action member Erica Licht ’10, who organized the Peanut Butter Jam with fellow Hunger Action member Rachel Glicksman ’09. Licht praised the fact that “Vassar students can come together to help out with Hunger Action and community awareness.”

Following the Peanut Butter Jam, Hunger Action held their third annual Bright Nights event in the Poughkeepse community. After recruiting Vassar students outside of Hunger Action to join their efforts, the group put together bagged lunches using the sandwiches from the Peanut Butter Jam. Equipped with the bagged lunches, toiletries, and a hot meal from the All-Campus Dining Center, the participants drove around Poughkeepsie and distributed the goods at various stops.

“We did it because there’s a need,” said Ezra Markowitz ’07. “It is a small, very basic way to help out.”

The group’s busy month continued on Nov. 20, when Hunger Action held the Hunger Fast, which is an annual event that, according to coordinator Emily Vail ’09, “allows participants to reflect on personal views and beliefs, including spirituality, as well as to raise awareness about hunger and homelessness.”

Collaborating with the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, Hunger Action and participating students fasted from dawn until dusk and picked food from Vassar Farm. They donated the harvest to a local soup kitchen called The Lunchbox.

Throughout the day, Hunger Action and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life were stationed in the Rose Parlor and engaged in discussions on fasting and hunger.

At the end of the day, students broke fast together with a dinner catered by Zorona Restaurant.

“For me, it wasn’t about not eating,” said Vail. “Rather, it was about reflecting on what food meant to me and to our culture. I think this is especially relevant to think about near Thanksgiving and the holiday season.”

The semester-long efforts of Hunger Action will culminate with their Community Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 30. Hunger Action hosts a community dinner every semester at The Lunchbox and opens it to the entire Poughkeepsie community. Vassar students will serve food and will eat with people who come to The Lunchbox for the event.

Hunger Action has already made specific plans to continue their activism next semester. The group will continue to send volunteers to The Lunchbox each week, and will have two more Bright Nights, another Community Dinner at the Lunchbox, and a hunger-awareness dinner.