CORVALLIS, Ore. - After winning the 2010 Let's Can Hunger Challenge in May, Oregon State University's Students in Free Enterprise group is back on the road fighting hunger again.
The students are on a national Fighting Hunger in the Homeland Tour aimed at increasing awareness of childhood hunger in the United States. Driving in their Powered by Orange vehicles, they are stopping at more than 20 food banks and dozens of cities across the country. In addition to volunteering at soup kitchens and community gardens, the students are giving presentations on food security and healthy eating choices.
The student team includes Alex Fulton, Jennifer Villalobos, Willen Sin, Kim Pendergrass, and MacAdam Lea. They are in Georgia this week, with volunteer stops at nonprofits such as Open Hand, a center that prepares 4,500 meals a day for the hungry in Atlanta. From Georgia, they will continue on to South Carolina, North Carolina, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and end in New Jersey before heading back to Corvallis.
The OSU students are using part of their financial winnings from the national competition to fund the trip, along with donations from sponsors.
The students are blogging about their experiences here: http://hungerinthehomeland.blogspot.com/
And you can follow them on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/osusife
The tour includes the following stops:
Thursday, July 8
9 a.m. to noon: Open Hand, 176 Ottley Dr., Atlanta, Ga..
Activity: Preparing meals for those that suffer from illness caused by malnutrition.
1 to 4 p.m.: Joseph B. Whitehead Boys & Girls Club, 1900 Lakewood Ave., Atlanta
Activity: Interactive presentation about hunger issues in the United States and the importance of developing healthy eating habits at a young age
Friday, July 9
10:30 a.m.: Samuel L. Jones Boys & Girls Club, 450 East Lake Dr., Decatur, Ga.
Activity: Interactive presentation about hunger issues in the United States and the importance of developing healthy eating habits at a young age
2 p.m.: Atlanta Community Food Bank, 732 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd., N.W., Atlanta
Activity: Meeting with executives to discuss childhood programming
Saturday, July 10
9 a.m.: Flash Foods, 10136 Hawkinsville Rd., Warner Robins, Ga.
Activity: Canned food drive
Monday, July 12
10 a.m.: Warner Robins First United Methodist Church, 205 North Davis Dr., Warner Robins, Ga.
Preparing and serving lunch at the soup kitchen
Tuesday, July 13
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Lowes Food Store, 807 Main St., Charleston, S.C.
Activity: Canned food drive
2 to 4 p.m.: Robert Gould Shaw Unit - Boys & Girls Club, 22 Mary St., Charleston, S.C.
Activity: Interactive presentation about hunger issues in the United States
Wednesday, July 14
8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Kicking for Hunger, 4050 Stallings Rd., Harrisburg, N.C.
Activity: Volunteering at a soccer camp that collects food
2 p.m.: Cooperative Christian Ministry, 246 Country Club Dr., Concord N.C.
Activity: Tour and interview
Thursday, July 15
8:45 a.m.: Kicking for Hunger, Bethel Elementary, 2425 Midland Rd., Midland, N.C.
Activity: Volunteering at a soccer camp that collects food
Friday, July 16
8:45 a.m. to noon: DC Central Kitchen, Federal City Shelter, 423 Second St. N.W., Washington D.C.
Activity: Preparing food at soup kitchen
3 p.m.: Share our Strength - No Kid Hungry, 1730 M St. N.W., Washington D.C.
Activity: Meeting with the leading experts in childhood hunger programs
Saturday, July 17
8:45 a.m. to noon: DC Central Kitchen, Federal City Shelter, 423 Second St. N.W., Washington D.C.
Activity: Preparing food at soup kitchen
1 p.m.: Campus Kitchen Project, 425 2nd St., Washington D.C.
Activity: Meeting with director about kitchen program
Monday, July 19
9 a.m.: Wayne Avenue Boys & Girls Club, 4223 Wayne Ave., Philadelphia
Activity: Interactive presentation about hunger issues in the United States
(Students separating for these visits)
10 a.m.: Wissahickon Boys and Girls Club, 328 West Coulter St., Philadelphia
Activity: Interactive presentation about hunger issues in the United States
10 a.m.: Johnson Homes, 2500 W. Norris St., Philadelphia
Activity: Working with the Philadelphia Housing Authority at its summer feeding programs
10 a.m.: Raymond Rosen Apartments, 2301 W. Edgely St., Philadelphia
Activity: Working with the Philadelphia Housing Authority at its summer feeding programs
1 p.m.: Germantown Boys and Girls Club, 25 West Penn St., Philadelphia
Activity: Interactive presentation about hunger issues in the United States
3 p.m.: Bridesburg Boys and Girls Club, 2901 Bridge St., Philadelphia
Activity: Interactive presentation about hunger issues in the United States
Tuesday, July 20
Hunger Summit at Campbell's headquarters, Camden, N.J.