by Savannah Weishaar
With the holidays quickly approaching, many people, including Parkland students and faculty, are in the giving mood.
For this reason, Parkland is providing students with an easy opportunity to give back with Thanksgiving on the horizon. Students and faculty can “Fight Hunger and Feed Hope” by donating to our local food bank. Students can donate by finding boxes labeled “Food Drive” all around campus. Contributions donated in these boxes will be given to the Eastern Illinois Food Bank. This food bank feeds 18 counties in eastern Illinois, including Champaign County. Some items that are currently needed include canned meats, canned meals, canned vegetables, canned fruit, boxed meals, and peanut butter. The estimated poverty rate in Champaign County is 18.9% according to the Eastern Illinois Food Bank website, so any donation great or small is much appreciated. The food drive will be ending on Nov. 27 so make sure to get in any donations by that date.
According to dosomething.org, “Hunger in America exists for over 50 million people. That is 1 in 6 of the U.S. population – including more than 1 in 5 children.” This statistic may be shocking, but it is the reality of our country today. The effects of hunger on individuals–especially children– are horrifying. According to 30hourfamine.org, “Hunger delays development on the cognitive, social and emotional level. This includes reading, language, attention, memory and problem-solving capabilities. Hunger hinders our ability to focus and study. Children who experience hunger early on are more likely to perform poorly academically, repeat a grade and/or require special assistance while in school.” The long lasting effects of hunger in children is obviously far reaching and detrimental to all aspects of health. Now, this holiday season, Parkland is giving students an opportunity to make a difference. The college has over 8,000 students; imagine the sizeable donation that could be given if each student brought in just one item!
This is not only a great opportunity to give back to the community, but also fellow students in need. Eastern Illinois Food Bank is the same food bank that provides food for the Wesley Food Pantry located here on campus. By donating to Eastern Illinois Foodbank, students and faculty are not only helping communities in Illinois, but also students at Parkland who use the Wesley Food Pantry. The Wesley Food Pantry is a great resource for students who could use a little extra help with the groceries. Parkland is aware of the financial struggles that accompany attending college and want to help in any way they can. The Wesley Food Pantry is open to any and all students who can show a valid Parkland student ID. The food pantry is located in M138 near the Planetarium. Students can park in the M1 lot and enter though the outside of the building. The food pantry is open every Wednesday from 11-1 and every first and third Saturday of the month from 10-12.
So whether students are donating to Eastern Illinois Food Bank or going to the Wesley Food Pantry, Parkland can help spread a little love this holiday season.
