Newsletter
September 2020
WHAT IS FOOD INSECURITY?
Food insecurity is the uncertainty of access to a healthy, nutritious meal and the looming possibility of hunger. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue. With unemployment and even evictions on the rise, many more families have become food insecure. They often face a choice between medicine, rent, or utilities and food. Across the country, food banks have come up with some creative solutions, such as providing home deliveries and fighting to destigmatize benefits like SNAP (Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program).
WHAT DO WE DO AT OXFORD?
More than 18,000 people experience food insecurity in Newton County. There is a food desert surrounding us-- which means that there is limited access to nutritious food, which is often substituted by junk food available in convenience stores. The Oxford College FRN chapter began in 2017 to recover fresh food to share with our partners in our community, including the Covington First United Methodist Church Food Pantry. With the help of our volunteers, we’ve recovered 215 pounds of food this month!
215 lbs
We recovered a total of 215 pounds of food from Lils for the month of September, with an average of 43 pounds per recovery. Keep up the great work!
SEPTEMBER IS HUNGER ACTION MONTH
This month, people all over the United States will stand together and take action to fight hunger and end food insecurity. Sharing information, volunteering, pledging to advocate, fundraising, and donating to local food banks and food pantries are just a few ideas for taking action this month. The Oxford Food Recovery Network hopes everyone will take time this month to reflect on how hunger personally impacts people and how we can all take a stand to work to fight hunger together.
Volunteer of the Month
Dylan Goldberg
What does a typical food recovery look like?
"A typical food recovery looks like walking into the dining hall, going into the back, getting all of the food out, and doing our best to get it into packages for people to eat at their homes."
What draws you to volunteer at food recoveries?
"It’s a really great cause, and it’s not that much of an ask. You just go and help and you’re able to do so much good. It’s really easy and really good."
What does FRN mean to you?
"It means doing good whenever you can on campus and taking the opportunities we have. We’re really privileged here where the dining hall overproduces our own food, and repackaging that privilege can help someone else."
What advice would you offer to students looking to become involved with food justice?
"Literally just show up. It’s super easy. You just have to be there and you can do good."
Broaden Your Perspective
Read: There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America by Alex Kotlowicz
This is the moving and powerful account of two remarkable boys struggling to survive in Chicago's Henry Horner Homes, a public
housing complex disfigured by crime and neglect. Watch: How to Feed the World, directed by Denis van Waerebeke “How to Feed the World” is a 10-minute film that uses colorful graphics to explain how globalization and trade influence which foods are available in different regions of the globe.
Upcoming Events
FRN x Oxford Climate Reality Project (OCRP) Food and Climate Panel: Oct. 8, 7:30 PM
-Panelists: Dr. Hadley, Dr. Ham, Ruth Geiger, Taylor Spicer
Recoveries are on Sundays at 1 PM and Tuesdays at 5 PM!
February 2020
This month we had an average of 5 volunteers attend each food recovery. We can’t wait to see this number grow throughout the semester!
26.9 lbs
We averaged 26.9 lbs of food per recovery from Lils for the month of February. Keep up the great work!
Volunteer of the Month
Joyce Liu
How has FRN impacted your life on campus?
“Knowing how much food we can recover and donate to others through FRN, I have become more conscious about how much I consume and how much I waste.”
What does FRN mean to you?
“To me, FRN is a way of giving back to the community we reside in. It means so much to me to know that we are able to give to those who do not have unlimited food at their disposal while also reducing waste and being environmentally friendly!”
What’s your favorite part about FRN recoveries?
“My favorite part of FRN is weighing the food. It may not seem like a lot of work, but I am always shocked by how much we are able to recover. It really serves to remind us that we are making actual impacts in people’s lives.”
Best tip for being waste-free/eco-friendly?
“Recycle/compost in the right bins at Ox!!”
Upcoming Dates
Weekly Recoveries: Every Tuesday at 5:30pm and Sunday at 1:00pm at Lil’s
Mitzvah Day: March 22nd
FRN Regional Summit: April 18th