Please see caption below.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Nearly 800 million people globally do not receive the necessary amount of food to survive, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. While the number of undernourished individuals decreases each year, this number shows that nearly one out of every nine people on earth continue to suffer from food insecurity.
This is why the University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) has continued its partnership with Stop Hunger Now to package meals for families in need. This is the fourth year of the collaboration, and the event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 4 in the Straughn Center on UF’s campus, 2142 Shealy Drive.
“Last year, we raised enough funds to purchase and package more than 20,000 meals to send abroad, and this year our goal is 25,000,” said CALS Dean Elaine Turner. “Service is a core value of CALS, and our students are especially committed to the fight against hunger and food insecurity.”
Students, faculty and alumni are encouraged to register to volunteer and package meals by contacting Charlotte Emerson, CALS director of student development and recruitment, at cemer@ufl.edu. Volunteers are asked to bring three nonperishable items for the UF Field and Fork Food Pantry. Donations to help purchase the meals are welcomed and can be made at http://www.uff.ufl.edu/appeals/stophunger.
“This event is a great way for students, faculty and alumni to get involved on campus and help those in need, especially during the month of Thanksgiving,” said Rachel Morgan, an agribusiness master’s student in the UF/IFAS food and resource economics department. Morgan has participated in this CALS service project every year since its inception. She is inspired to see so many individuals coming together to work toward the common goal of eradicating food insecurity.
Established in 1998 and based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Stop Hunger Now is a national program working to end global hunger. To date, more than 287 million meals have been packaged to serve 74 countries.
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The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) administers the degree programs of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The mission of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences is to deliver unsurpassed educational programs that prepare students to address the world’s critical challenges related to agriculture, food systems, human wellbeing, natural resources and sustainable communities. Visit the CALS website at cals.ufl.edu, and follow CALS on social media platforms at @ufcals.
Caption: The University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences will continue its partnership with Stop Hunger Now to package meals for families in need. This is the fourth year of the collaboration, and the event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 4 in the Straughn Center on UF’s campus, 2142 Shealy Drive.
Credit: UF/IFAS file.
By: Dana Edwards, 352-392-1963, dana.edwards@ufl.edu
Source: Charlotte Emerson, 352-392-8988, cemer@ufl.edu
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