The Seattle Collegian

Photo Credit: Bethel Fekade

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 40% of food produced in the U.S. goes uneaten every year. Meanwhile, there were 42.2 million people, including 13.1 million children, who did not have enough food to lead a healthy, active lifestyle in 2015. While reducing hunger in the US will require addressing the root causes of poverty, donations of food can be an important strategy to addressing the immediate needs of millions of Americans.

We, the students and faculty of Seattle Central College, can make a difference in reducing hunger in Seattle.

Why donate to a food drive? Not all impoverished families are eligible for federal assistance, or this assistance doesn’t meet their needs. You can help fill this gap by donating your surplus wholesome food to local nonprofit or charitable hunger relief groups. By putting food into people’s stomachs and not our trash cans, we’re also reducing waste and the need to deal with it. There are no limitations when it comes to the parties for donation. Permitted food facilities such as restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, food processing facilities, food distributors, and caterers can donate prepared foods and meals. Individuals can also donate uncooked, pre-packaged food products (e.g. canned food items) that can be prepared on site by approved food handlers.

Students from the PTK and ASC (Associated Student Council) have been working together with Ricardo Levya-Puebla, who is the new dean of student development at Seattle Central College, to make it possible for students to take part in the school’s Thanksgiving food drive. The food drive boxes have been placed in various corners of the school, so you can be a part of this act of ending hunger on-campus by simply dropping nonperishable food items into the boxes, or by going to the Info Central office on campus and contacting any members of the PTK (Phi Theta Kappa)board.

Donations of whole produce, canned goods, dry foods and other similar products can be delivered anytime with no requirement for temperature controls or delivery times. Any act of kindness can go a long way, there is no such thing as too little for contribution. We, the students and faculty of Seattle Central College, can make a difference in reducing hunger in Seattle. If you have extra non-perishable food items, why not donate them and help people in need.