HPU Students Host Holiday Food Drive, Provide for Local Families

High Point University’s freshman Education Fellows gathered with some of the food they collected to donate to the community through the Out of the Garden Project (OOTGP).

HIGH POINT, N.C., Dec. 11, 2024 – High Point University’s freshman Education Fellows recently hosted a food drive after completing a Hunger in America class. The food drive was part of their semester-long initiative to address food insecurity in the Piedmont Triad.

Students from HPU’s Stout School of Education collected boxes of canned, non-perishable food and delivered them to the Out of the Garden Project (OOTGP), a nonprofit organization based in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The freshman Education Fellows volunteered at two service sites during the fall semester. They completed 25 service-learning hours between the Out of the Garden Project and the High Point Public Library Teaching Garden.

While in Greensboro, students prepared boxes full of produce for approximately 100 families each week during the fall semester, said Beth Crise, Out of the Garden Project executive director and president. The students’ total efforts provided nourishment to approximately 1,300 local families, making a significant impact in the fight against hunger, she said.

“Childhood food insecurity is a pervasive issue, and through their efforts, these future educators are not only learning about the challenges families face but also actively contributing to solutions,” Crise said. “We are inspired by their commitment to creating a brighter future for the children they will one day teach. The support from High Point University students in organizing this food drive has been invaluable. Thanks to their hard work, countless students and families in Guilford County Schools will have access to nourishing meals during weekends and over the winter break — a crucial time when many children face increased hunger. Their generosity this holiday season is a testament to the power of community and collaboration in the fight against childhood hunger.”

Rosemarie Tarara, an instructor of health education and director of HPU’s Education Fellows, said the group of freshmen gained a deeper understanding of the challenges in addressing food insecurity through their volunteer work during the semester. They also provided families with access to healthy food options.

“It brings the students together to develop a community within their cohort but also introduces them to the greater High Point community,” Tarara said. “As future educators, they will be an integral part of a community. As a class, we go over the impact of food insecurity on an individual and community.”

Working for several years with Tarara and the HPU Education Fellows has been a joy for Mark Taylor, a librarian who manages the High Point Public Library Teaching Garden.

“While I always hope it has a local impact, I realize that the greater impact is on the students themselves. They are tomorrow’s educators,” Taylor said. “My goal in sharing my knowledge on food hardship and food insecurity will hopefully help because food hardship and insecurity is not limited to High Point. They’re also getting an education on how to grow food in an inexpensive way that matches the economic ability of people who are living below or at the poverty line. Also, growing your own food has substantial benefits, including better health and well-being.”

By the end of the semester, students have also expanded the number of vegetables they incorporate in their diet, Taylor said.

“We worked with the High Point Public Library Teaching Garden to learn how produce looks when it’s first grown,” said Samantha Tilton, an elementary education major from Tewksbury, Massachusetts. “We see what is considered healthy because we go through the produce in the OOTGP warehouse to separate the good from the bad. I’ve learned first-hand what it takes to make a meal that provides all the food groups. We learned about the different food supplies you need to ensure everyone is getting nutritious meals instead of eating packaged food.”

The students also learned about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and how it provides food benefits to low-income families so they can afford nutritious food. That view of what it’s like for families who rely on government food assistance programs will help future educators be “more supportive and understanding to our students in those circumstances and be able to help in any way,” Tilton said.

Seeing the power of a group effort to help others was a lesson that resonated with Elizabeth Bodvin, an elementary education major from Hanover, Pennsylvania. “Working together with our peers was impactful and meaningful,” she said.

“One thing I learned is that there is a much bigger community of people who struggle with hunger,” said Madison Kattke, a special education major from Doylestown, Pennsylvania. “I think doing these things and helping the community is definitely a great thing. We are making a big difference in people’s lives.”