Medford resident Leanna DeMarco shares her thoughts on world hunger.
To the editor:
I am writing this regarding my concern for the worldwide shortage of food. I struggle with the fact that so many people in America go to sleep hungry every night. This issue is becoming more prominent in our area and something needs to be done about it. Whether these people are complete strangers or our closest friends, no one deserves to suffer from starvation.
While some people see ending world hunger as an unachievable goal, I feel it can be accomplished with small steps. Recently, a company called Food Rescue US has been prompted to come to the Philadelphia area. This company has an app where restaurants can log in and donate a list of surplus food rather than dispose of it at the end of the night. A volunteer would then drive to the restaurant and rescue the uneaten food. Then, a receiving agency, such as a soup kitchen, could post their needs and find food that matches the agencies wants.
In my opinion, this is a fantastic idea. If I could improve it, I would include more than just restaurants. Surplus food should be donated from all venues that sell food. This includes concert or sporting stadiums, food trucks, markets, airports and even college dining halls or high school cafeterias.
Last year, I organized a similar project at Rider University where I was attending school as a sophomore. I was able to put together a large haul of uneaten food from the various dining halls and donate it to a local soup kitchen. This was extremely effective for both the school and the soup kitchen.
Now, with the help of the app Food Rescue US has created, donating food and feeding the hungry has never been easier. More people can volunteer and more food can be donated. This is a huge step to ending world hunger and it only takes one person to make a difference. Get involved with the community and be that one person.
Leanna DeMarco
