To start the fall semester at Penn State Brandywine, a group of more than 30 honors scholars enrolled in STS 130H volunteered their time to help local food charity, Philabundance. These students will be spending the next few months studying world food problems, and the first-hand experience packing over 12,000 lbs. has already left an impact on them. Many students made remarks about how wonderfully meaningful the experience was.
Philabundance was founded in 1984, with the simple belief that no man, woman or child should go hungry. Since then, it has seen massive growth due to an outpouring of support from the community. It is the primary hunger relief effort in the area, focusing on the greater Delaware Valley.
According to the 2010 Hunger in America Study, the Delaware Valley is one of the hardest hit areas in the nation:
- About 27% percent of Philadelphians live below the poverty line.
- Local agencies have seen a 26% increase in need over the past year compared to a 22% increase from the year before.
- One in every three children live in poverty.
- Each year, more than 900,000 individuals are at risk of food insecurity in the Delaware Valley.
Thanks to the honors scholars for generously donating their valuable time to such a worthy cause!