University of Mount Olive CFFA Fights Hunger
MOUNT OLIVE – In North Carolina alone, 636,120 households are at risk for hunger every day. Recently the Collegiate FFA at University of Mount Olive became a partner in the fight against hunger by working with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, a member of the Feeding America Network. Twenty three CFFA members participated in a field gleaning effort which resulted in nearly two tons of cabbage collards being harvested – 1,971 pounds to be exact.
Field gleaning is a simple idea. Farmers contact the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle (IFFS) when they have extra crops. The IFFS coordinates with a volunteer crew to gather the produce that is left in the field after harvest, and then IFFS distributes it to people in need in our seven-county area. Agriculture education freshman Dylan Gupere of Kenly said, “ We really enjoyed gleaning as a group. It was a great opportunity to work together for a great cause that is really a win-win for the farmer and those fighting hunger.”
This program helped students understand that fresh produce is not always available or affordable to people right here in their own communities. Whitley Lovette, a freshman agribusiness major from Stantonsburg, NC, stated, “It was a new experience for me and I got to work with a great team of CFFA members. The fact that the food is donated to the Food Bank gave me a good Samaritan feeling. Watching the truck drive off and knowing that we helped someone who is hungry means more than anything else.”
The Collegiate FFA program is participating in gleaning again on September 20th and 25th from 9 to 11 AM and on October 2nd from 9 to 11 AM. If you would like to participate in gleaning, please contact Dr. Sandy Maddox, director of the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center at University of Mount Olive via email at SMaddox@moc.edu or call 919-658-7682.
“The Collegiate FFA at University of Mount Olive is open to all students on campus,” stated Hannah Singleton a junior in agriculture education and CFFA president. “We encourage any and all other clubs to participate in these efforts as well.”
University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.