Symposium on Hunger to be held

The Bloomsburg University Office of Access and Success will host a Symposium on Hunger from Oct. 18-20.

The Symposium on Hunger begins Monday, Oct. 18, at 4 p.m. at the Greenly Center. Melody Keim, executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, will speak. Keim has over 15 years of experience in non-profit and philanthropic sectors in the areas of hunger, homelessness, and income disparity. She has previously worked as a lead adviser for Five Spires, executive director of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, and vice president of programs and initiatives for the Lancaster County Community Foundation.  

In addition, a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the BU Basic Needs Shoppe will be held on Monday, Oct. 18, at 5:45 p.m. In the Greenly Center, room 115. 

The Basic Needs Shoppe is open to students in the ACT 101 program. It offers a wide variety of items from non-perishable food to culturally relevant hair products to winter clothing. It also provides cooking demonstrations, education on housing and food and basic needs insecurity, as well as information on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and assistance in applying for the program. 

The symposium continues Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. in McCormick Center, room 2303, with Ayanna Jones, founder, and president of the Sankofa Village Community Garden in Pittsburgh. Jones helped establish the Youth Community Garden, Geraldine B. Hill Senior Garden Project, and the Farm from a Box Program. The Sankofa Community Garden has also recently launched a bike rental program to encourage low-income youth to engage in healthy activities. 

The symposium concludes Wednesday, Oct. 20, from 5 to 8 p.m. in McCormick Center, room 2303, with Barbie Izquierdo. She has spent the past 13 years as a community activist and advocate who is determined to end the cycle of food insecurity and poverty. Izquierdo is recognized and respected as a voice in the fight against hunger and was a keynote speaker at the White House during President Obama’s administration. Her story has been featured in the documentary A Place at the Table, an award-winning film about hunger and food insecurity in America. Reservations are required for this event and can be made by emailing apham@bloomu.edu.  

For more information, contact Ralph Godbolt at rgodbolt@bloomu.edu. Masks will be required for attendance at all events.