Students have the opportunity to volunteer at local food banks throughout September as part of national organization Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month.
The Tarrant Area Food Bank, located in Fort Worth, serves Tarrant County and 12 neighboring counties in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.
TCU student and Tarrant Area Food Bank intern Kaitlyn Van Gorkom said she was blessed to have the luxury of always knowing where her next meal would come from.
Van Gorkom said she has spent time at the food bank in the marketing office working closely with volunteers and social media. She said working at the food bank has given her a new perspective on hunger.
“I was really surprised to hear about 85 percent of the population being served are not homeless people. They are just normal people who are down on their luck and need help now,” Van Gorkom said.
Van Gorkom said her favorite part was working with volunteers.
“It would be impossible for the food bank to do what they do without volunteers,” she said.
TCU’s chapter of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity spends a couple hours every Tuesday volunteering at the Tarrant Area Food Bank.
Jack Enright , Alpha Phi Omega’s vice president, said the food bank was one of APO’s main projects.
“It is really fulfilling to know that you are doing something that helps so many people,” Enright said.
Van Gorkom said the newest way the food bank was involving college students was through a young professionals program called FeedForward. The volunteer-based group offers an opportunity to help make a difference in the community, she said.
“It is a way to get involved with the food bank through volunteering and networking,” Van Gorkom said.
The food bank offers different ways to become a part of the fight against hunger. Its calendar, “30 Ways in 30 Days,” offers suggestions on how to get involved fighting hunger. The calendar is available on the Tarrant Area Food Bank website.
Feeding America is the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization, according to the official website. The charity works through a network of food banks to raise awareness of hunger in the U.S.
Tarrant Area Food Bank and Feeding America work together to raise awareness of local hunger and food insecurity for Hunger Action Month, according to the Tarrant Area Food Bank website.
One in six Americans suffer from hunger, according to a recent Feeding America study. The goal for Hunger Action Month is to reach one million hungry people by Sept. 30.
For More Information on Ways to Get Involved:
Website: www.tafb.org
What: FeedFoward Kick-Off Event
When: Sept. 29, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Tarrant Area Food Bank
2600 Cullen St.
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
