Empty Bowls raises awareness of food insecurity in Bucknell community, Valley

Mar. 20—LEWISBURG — The Bucknell University Office of Civic Engagement raised funds and awareness of food insecurity on Wednesday.

The Empty Bowls event took place for breakfast and lunch in the Terrace Room of the Elaine Langone Center. All money raised benefited Community Harvest, a hot meal program that serves 100 to 120 freshly prepared meals every Monday at St. Andrew's Methodist Church in Milton.

"We know food insecurity is a community-identified priority," said Sarah Farbo, the associate director of Community Based and Engaged Learning through the Office of Civil Engagement. "We wanted to raise awareness and get the community involved. They can volunteer with Community Harvest or another distribution in the area."

The Food and Nutrition Task Force surveyed students on campus in the 2020-21 school year. Sixty-three percent of respondents said it was "often true" or "sometimes" true that they are worried about whether they can have all of the meals they need per day. Thirty-six percent of respondents said they have cut meal portions or skipped meals because they didn't have enough money for food in the last three months with 61 students indicating that this affects them almost every day.

Community Harvest serves anyone with no restrictions. In the spring and summer, fresh produce from Bucknell Farm and Garden is used for the meals, said Farbo.

"We also wanted to educate people on food insecurity both on and off campus," said Farbo.

Funds were raised through nearly 200 tickets purchased and a silent auction with items donated by Lewisburg Children's Museum, Trevina, Donny Zilkowski, Jordanna Adams, Brushstrokes, Mondragon, Barnes & Noble, Campus Theatre and Paris Bakery and Cafe. Visitors could also donate financially at the event.

"This does something for the community," said Bucknell employee Mary Ann Burkland. "It supports a good cause."

Sophomore Hannah Tran said food insecurity is a subject not often recognized in the Bucknell community because university students are perceived as more affluent than others.

"These events address the problem people don't want to talk about," said Tran. "Some people are ashamed of it. There's a stigma surrounding food insecurity."