Food insecurity may seem unthinkable for many students, but for others, it's a reality that they live with every day. Whether it presents itself in the form of skipping meals to save money or eating McDonald's because it's cheaper than fresh produce, food insecurity can undermine productivity and health.
Luckily, the university is becoming increasingly aware of these issues among students and has a food pantry on campus to relieve the stress of students suffering from food insecurity. The Alan and Cathy Hitchcock Field & Fork Pantry provides fresh produce and other goods for students, and all you have to do is show your Gator ID. For more information on the process and their mission, visit their website.
My Experience Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to get involved with your community and make a real impact on the lives of others. Thanks to the program coordinator, Dina Liebowitz, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Field & Fork gardens. The Field & Fork gardens grow all of the fresh produce that supplies the pantry, directly helping fight food insecurity on campus.
Located right next to the infamous bat houses, the gardens are filled with diverse fruits and vegetables that can literally be walked to the pantry. Does it get any fresher than that? The goal of the Field & Fork program is not just to supply food to students, but to provide a range of different produce that introduces students to the variety that is out there. Bananas are great, but have you ever tried plantains? If not, the pantry has got you covered.
Not only is the pantry growing all of their own produce, but they're doing it sustainably. One of my main jobs while volunteering was composting to create natural fertilizer that provides the produce with all the nutrients they need to reach the pantry. This process was not clean (there were worms involved) but was most definitely rewarding when finished.
Besides composting, I became an expert at pulling weeds. If you ever need a workout, just head out to the gardens. But seriously, as mundane as this sounds, Liebowitz made sure to explain how important it was to keep up with weeding on the garden. Weeds can snatch the nutrients from the produce that needs them.
Food for Thought
This experience opened my eyes to the amount of work that goes into this garden and the pantry. It was amazing to see such passionate people working to help fight insecurity on campus. I urge you to volunteer and if you ever find yourself in need of food from the pantry, don't hesitate to stop in and shop.