Happy Spring Time! It’s been quite the Semester of endless class lectures, exams and lab reports that seem to consume a good two hours over what originally thought. It’s safe to say that as spring blossoms arise and the sun swells, I anxiously await Summer time. I’m sure many of you are feeling this same spring time fever. I enjoy looking back upon the much needed and much too short blissful Spring Break. I hope you all encountered a break of some sort.
I was fortunate enough to travel to New York City as an Alternative Spring Break Participant. Our group focused our service week in soup kitchens, food pantries, The Salvation Army Afterschool program, and hunger outreach programs. It was an eye-opening and educational experience. I was able to see how several non-profit organizations contribute to the fight against hunger in the United States. Each facility operated differently and took a different humanitarian approach to support impoverished Americans. Time spent in a Brooklyn office called “The Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger” taught me most about ways struggling citizens can cope with poverty through subsidizing food costs. We were able to approach people in the neighborhood about their interests and needs in applying for food stamp benefits. Food stamps provide eligible people a way to independently collect food for them-selves and their families. Because the food stamp program is funded through the federal government, the usage of food stamps is equally as beneficial to the retail economy as consumer purchases. This organization also focused on providing sustainable and nourishing staple foods, cooking ideas, and gardening programs. This experience was informative, and brought a new prospective on American hunger and what is being done to combat our country’s economic struggle. I feel fortunate to live in Wyoming. I realize its strong economy provides greater employment and educational opportunities.
Best of luck to everyone in their last push before settling into Summer Vacation!