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The Issue:

     Solving world hunger seems to be a broad cause that we hear talked about often, especially on television. It is popular for people to want to put an end to such a massive issue. The problem is that wanting to end a problem and actually taking the steps to end it take much different approaches and varying degrees of effort. Our world doesn’t only need increased awareness, but it also needs people who have the desire to make an impact to the cause that they are spreading knowledge about. It is important to make people aware of an issue, but it can be argued that it is even more important to do something about the issue because that, in turn, can increase awareness by leading through example. This is the approach that I take. Each week, I lead by example at Harvest Hope Food Bank. My role as a University of South Carolina Community Service Ambassador gives me the opportunity to talk to people about my contributions at Harvest Hope. I am able to engage in meaningful discussions with my peers and others in the community about the determinants of health and how my extensive service at Harvest Hope speaks to my passion for this issue. My leadership by example is more impactful than just spreading the knowledge about hunger in our communities because I am doing both of these things simultaneously.

     We also need to keep the bigger picture in mind, while also addressing the smaller scope of the problem that we can actually impact in our own communities. Hunger does not only affect those who are physically experiencing it, but also everyone else in the community. This is because the Social Ecological Model, physical activity, and nutrition are all interconnected in their impact on health and wellbeing, a larger proportion of hungry and unhealthy people in our society can cause our communities as a whole to become unhealthy as well. There are also economic impacts of poor health that affect every member of society.

Recommendations:

     Simply put – lead by example. When others get the opportunity to talk about their impactful experience, they can collaborate with others on how to further address these issues. However, before anything can be done, it is necessary that we seek to understand. We must consider the perspectives of those in need in our communities in order to determine the best plan of action that will benefit them the most. Being patient and putting ourselves in the shoes of the hungry is crucial if we want to positively change their lives. Realizing that any one of us could be in that tough of a situation in an instant helps to keep the issue in perspective.

The Plan:

  1. Consider the determinants of health and how they relate to hunger in our communities.

  2. Organize a discussion where members from all parts of the Columbia, SC community can collaborate on the best methods to address these determinants and discover the places of greatest need in the community with regards to hunger and health. Some community members who should be engaged in this discussion include middle schoolers and their parents, high schoolers, college student leaders that are service-minded, low-income individuals, middle-income individuals, high-income individuals, and non-profit managers and board members. 

  3. Gather their contact information and encourage the students and able-adults to donate and/or volunteer once a program is launched. Similarly, reassure the low-income individuals that they will soon be able to receive assistance to aid in minimizing the effects of food insecurity.

  4. Understand the background of those who are experiencing food insecurity in Columbia. They may not know of all resources available to them, or how to properly utilize the resources that they receive. Collaborate on possible methods to increase awareness of inexpensive and nutritious food resources for those facing hunger, and bridge this gap in knowledge.

  5. Form a taskforce of leaders in the Columbia community with a vision and passion to help solve this problem, and begin the process of organizing a program that will have immediate effects on the community. This program will be a free cooking class for the lower-income community where they will not only receive all of the ingredients for a healthy meal, but will also be guided in the cooking process, sent home with the meal, and receive a copy of the recipe. Have this program running within two weeks after the formation of the taskforce.

  6. The taskforce must gather funding through various fundraising methods, set on a time, and advertise for the class. While the program is still in the beginning stages and does not have abundant funding, the class will occur once per month; however, the taskforce leaders can change this if more ample amounts of funding become available. 

  7. When the participants arrive at the first cooking class, they will take a short survey that allows the taskforce to have a baseline of where they are in their knowledge of healthy cooking, their income, and their overall food security/insecurity. Subsequently, they will complete the same survey upon the completion of the class. This will occur at the beginning and end of each class to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

  8. The University of South Carolina's McCutchen House will be the first location for the cooking class. The location will then rotate between the McCutchen House, local high school cafeterias, and local middle school cafeterias. The taskforce will be responsible for organizing these details.

  9. The original taskforce will lead by example and spread the word about the cooking program to others in the community.

  10. Get feedback from these new leaders in the community. Have them share their experiences and collaborate in groups to formulate several tips of how the impact can continue to go further.

  11. Once the program is well established and has regular volunteers to keep it running successfully, the taskforce will apply for federal funding and work on expanding the cooking program, and will collaborate to create a new program that increases access to healthy foods among the lower-income community.

  12. Communicate with those who utilize the services, and get their feedback on the program. Have them complete a survey to discover any other issues that they would like to see addressed.

  13. Share this leading-by-example method to communities through neighboring cities and states via various non-profit agencies, and encourage them to help spread the impact throughout the entire country.

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