Hunger at Home: A Higher Education Service Learning Course of Appraisal and Action in Community Food Security

• Published in: Journal of nutrition education and behavior Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 71 - 72
• Main Author: Ross, Nancy J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 2011; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Administrator Attitudes; Agricultural Education; college students; Community Attitudes; Community Health Planning; community nutrition programs; Community organizations; Community Participation; Community service; Course Descriptions; Course Evaluation; Curricula; Education; education programs; Educational Status; Experiential Learning; Financial Support; Food; Food security; Food supply; Food Supply - statistics & numerical data; Fund Raising; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Higher Education; Humans; Hunger; Internal Medicine; Interviews; learning; low income households; Maine; Nutrition education; Nutrition Instruction; Nutritional Sciences - education; Poverty; Poverty Programs; Role; School Community Relationship; Service Learning; service learning course; Sociology; Student Attitudes; Unity College; universities; Volunteers; Maine
• ISSN: 1499-4046; 1878-2620; 1878-2620; 1708-8259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2010.06.002

Service learning and civic engagement are playing an increasingly larger role in higher education. Unity College's Hunger at Home course could serve as a model for service learning in disciplines such as nutrition, sociology, and food and agriculture. The class worked with local partners to get a better understanding of hunger in the area, recent history, resources devoted to the problem, and the community's view of problems and solutions. Students in the class interviewed hunger relief program managers and volunteers, community opinion leaders, and other experts. They reviewed literature on the causes and nature of hunger in the US, and analyzed local and national data on hunger and poverty programs. The class also planned and carried out a successful bread and soup supper to raise money for community feeding programs. At the fundraiser, the students presented to the community a report and posters describing hunger in the area, current programs and resources, unmet needs, and recommendations for action by the college. The course involved student reflection, was of mutual benefit for the school and community partners, and received positive evaluations by students and others.