Student wishes to serve others; one step at a time
Hunger is one of the world’s plagues. We see pictures of starving children in third-world countries. We donate cans of food to food banks. We are repeatedly told by our parents, “Eat your food. There are starving people in China!”
Despite all that, hunger is still an issue for many in our community. SUN Center Leader Amanda Van Wagoner, however, feels a hunger of a different kind – the hunger to help.
This archived article was written by: Austin Ashcraft
Hunger is one of the world’s plagues. We see pictures of starving children in third-world countries. We donate cans of food to food banks. We are repeatedly told by our parents, “Eat your food. There are starving people in China!”
Despite all that, hunger is still an issue for many in our community. SUN Center Leader Amanda Van Wagoner, however, feels a hunger of a different kind – the hunger to help.
“I think of what the world is like today and when I see what other people are going through, it really affects my attitude about what I have and how I act and treat other people,” she said. “I see the suffering in the world, those little kids who just need some help, and I want to help them as best I can. And if my service reaches only those here in Price, Utah, I feel like I will have still made a difference.”
Van Wagoner is spearheading three projects near the end of October: the Hunger Banquet, the Trick-or-Treat for Food and the Bread ‘N Soup Nights.
With each project, Van Wagoner hopes to collect food and raise money for those who are hungry in the area.
The Hunger Banquet will be in the multi-purpose room in the JLSC at 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 25. Admission is a can of food or 50 cents. She has arranged for a meal and for speakers to educate the student body on hunger awareness.
The Trick-or-Treat for Food will be Saturday, October 30 from 4 to 7 p.m.
“It’s lots of fun,” she explains. “We dress in our costumes and go around and collect food from the community members. They might even give you candy, too! It’s just a fun way to help those who are less fortunate.”
Students who would like to participate should meet at the Jennifer Leavitt Student Center in front of the bookstore at 4 p.m. to be given directions and instructions.
“We want to have as many people as possible come and help. Come when you can. The group that collects the most amount of food wins a prize,” she said.
One of the most anticipated projects of the school year is the Bread-n-Soup Nights. This year, they will be taking place every Monday evening in November before Thanksgiving at 5 p.m. The smell of delicious soup and fresh bread fill the air as volunteers set up, serve and enjoy a hearty meal, she added.
“I am very excited for the happy atmosphere that comes from people in the community and the college coming together to make a difference,” states Van Wagoner. “When people serve others, it makes them forget about their problems. It just makes people happy to see they are making a difference.”
