Centralight

CMU volunteers stepped into Feeding America's West Michigan Food Bank warehouse and a look of awe appeared on their faces. In front of them: More than a million pounds of food. Even more surprising to the students – more than 70 percent of that food was supposed to be in a landfill. And that is something that is happening around the nation. The USDA recently reported about 96 billion pounds of food available for human consumption in the United States were thrown away by retailers, restaurants, farmers and households over the course of one year. At the food bank, the 27 students package the perishable and nonperishable reclaimed food for distribution to pantries, shelters and other antihunger organizations in 40 West Michigan counties. Students do various tasks like weighing sausages, labeling cans, packaging meals and putting them into delivery trucks. "Here, we are doing the work so everything we do is going toward keeping the pantry open and giving back to the community," says freshman Aleksis Landers. Calkins Hall Residence Director Cathy Warner organized the group of CMU students, who were freshmen through fifth year seniors. "Volunteering our time and service is one of our core values at CMU," Warner says. "We're able to really demonstrate our goals as a university through our actions here." Starting as a joint program with the Public Service Residential Community and Calkins Hall residents, the volunteer program encourages students to make a difference. "When we're talking to our students about critical thinking and evaluating good uses of your time and money, we like to demonstrate that activities like these matter," Warner says. Every year, organizations around Michigan receive overwhelming amounts of donated food, some of which never makes it to homes due to lack of staff or resources. Volunteer groups make it possible for that food to end up in homes that need it, says Dena Rogers, Volunteer coordinator for the WMFB. Rogers says that an hour from one person at the food bank can help process 125 meals. She says CMU students have been volunteering at the WMFB since 2003, helping the organization get more than 20 million pounds of food to Michigan residents. CMU sophomore Kris Lawrence says he plans on returning to volunteer at the food bank and felt good knowing that he made a difference in someone's life. "I helped hundreds of families get a meal on their table," he says. "That's a good way to spend your day." • Above, freshman Aleksis Landers cuts bread that will be distributed to pantries. Opposite page, CMU students Devann Hattis, Mario Garza, Katharine Seal and Markayla Lowe packed up food products that will feed families in western Michigan. Get involved • Food Gatherers, Ann Arbor, 734-761-2796 • Food Bank of South Central Michigan, Battle Creek, 269-964-3663 • Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank, Comstock Park, 616-784-3250 • Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, Detroit, 313-923-3535 • Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, Flint, 810-239-4441 • Mid-Michigan Food Bank, Lansing, 517-702-3355 • Forgotten Harvest, Oak Park, 248-967-1500 For a complete list of Feeding America Food Banks, go to feedingamerica.org. • centralight summer '12 27

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