The HungerU Initiative of the Farm Journal Foundation set up outside Prexy’s Pasture on Friday, with the goal of educating students about the world’s food crises.
The Farm Journal Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating others about agriculture and the way it can supply the world’s hungry population.
Tracee Schiebel, a HungerU crew member, said the crew has been on the road since the end of August. Their job is to travel across the nation going to college campuses asking students to take the HungerU challenge.
“We hope to educate, discuss and empower individuals to do something about the hunger crises,” Schiebel said. The HungerU challenge is comprised of five questions. The questions ask students to gauge their knowledge of hunger and the increasing population food waste.
“After the challenge, we ask them how they did and discuss what they did. We ask them if they overestimated or underestimated the food crises, and what they can do reduce personal food waste. We ask them what they can do to get involved with their community and then help them come to an answer,” Schiebel said.
One in six Americans are hungry and Americans waste 40 percent of their food. In this region of the nation there are a lot of food deserts. Food deserts are areas where people don’t have access to the food they need. Food could still be growing at these locations but it still isn’t enough for the population so they are forced to outsource from other locations.
The initiative is on the Pacific Northwest tour. They started in Utah and will end in Wisconsin.
“People are receptive to our message, they thank and appreciate us, and then there are people who aren’t so interested,” Schiebel said.
“One campus hit home for me because I had to tell two individuals where they could get food. Providing them with that information was really important for me, but anywhere we go we want to empower people to make a change,” Schiebel said.
