The University News (Irving, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 4, Ed. 1 Tuesday, September 29, 2009 Page: 2 of 11
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The University News
News
September 29, 2009 — 3
Dinner and Discourse talks hunger
Mary Schuhriemen
News Editor
This past week at Dinner anc!
Discourse, Christine Carter, public
relations coordinatorforthe North
Texas Food Bank (NTFB), discussed the
problem of hunger in the community.
Carter began her presentation by
showing a brief video that interviewed
both those in need and members of the
community who were making an effort to
help meet their needs. The video stressed
that it is a common misconception that
only homeless people go hungry. Many
working-class Americans live in "food
insecure" households, meaning that
they often do not know from where their
next meal will come. In Texas alone,
one in five children live in food insecure
households. The video then urged the
audience to join the North Texas Food
Bank's initiative and "work to close the
gap on hunger."
Carter explained that the NTFB is a
not-for-profit organization that functions
as the hub of food acquisition and
distribution center for hundreds of groups
who serve 53,000 needy families a month
in the North Texas area. NTFB is under
the umbrella of the larger organization
Feeding America.
"It is a great experience for me to
work at the food bank," Carter said,
addingthat in her job in public relations,
she hears many stories of people in need.
"What I do, spreading the news, helps
these people indirectly."
She then detailed some of the
programs that the NTFB has organized
to meet the needs of the hungry. The
Backpack program was begun to
extend the school lunch program to
provide needy children with food for
the weekends. "Each kid gets a generic
looking backpack so that they do not
stand out, and then the principle each
week will call all of them to the gym to
get kid-friendly food for the weekend,"
Carter said. "Students are so excited and
happy [to receive the backpacks and
food]. Imagine you are an 11-year-old
with three younger siblings who depend
on you for food. No one should have to
do that." The Backpack program, she said,
helps feed children and allows "kids to be
kids." The school meal program has also
been extended into the summer.
Carter said that the NTFB realized
this need when they heard stories of
children eating balloons, crayon labels
and food off the cafeteria floor. "A teacher
asked a little girl why she ate the crayon,
and the little girl said 'because my tummy
doesn't hurt then,'" Carter said, adding
that the food bank has seen a 30 percent
increase of needy people across the
nation. "Even people who are used to
making six-figure salaries are now forced
to rely on food stamps."
There are many more outreach
programs, Carter continued, including
food stamp assistance. "Food stamps
help, but many people have to wait
100 days for their applications to be
processed," she said. "Meanwhile, what
is a mother going to do during those
hundred days to feed her kids?"
Carter then went on to explain about
the campaign, "Close the Gap." Started
three years ago, this program focuses
on closing the gap between need and
access. Its goal is to reach 50 million
meals by 2011. This goal, however, did
not anticipate the recession.
Carter shared that it was great to
work on the campaign and to reach out
to those in need and added that, as a
Christian herself, it was good to know
that her work was helping someone
else. She asked her audience to join the
effort. "With every dollar received, we
can provide four meals because of the
efficiency of our teams," she said. She
suggested that students or clubs hold food
drives, saying
"Ti ;e need is greater, so we need more
volunteers," Carter added. "If you can't
donate, you can volunteer." Volunteers at
the facility box and sort food to be sent
to distribution centers. Those who do
not have time to volunteer can "always
spread the word about the food bank,"
Carter suggested. I he NTFB is only 15
minutes away from UD, Carter said, and
emphasized again that one dollar equals
four meals for the hungry.
"I encourage you to help because
you never know who's in need, and it can
happen to anyone. It is good to think of
others before yourself."
To learn more about the NTFB, to
contact Carter for volunteer or donation
efforts, or to schedule a tour, visit www.
ntfb.org.
that there
can be both
traditional
"bring a can"
food drives
and v i rtu a I
donation
drives. She
said that there
have been kids
who throw
birthday parties
and request
donations for
the food bank
instead of
presents.
"G mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and
a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may
know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the
most honored of you in the sight of (Sod is (he who is) the most
righteous of you. £\nd God has full knowledge and is well
acquainted (with all things). (Che Quran, Chapter 49, Verse 15)
UD Scholar an opportunity for
publishing
Cordially invites you to
When: Saturday, October 10,2009 10:00 am -1:00 pm
Address: 2555 Esters Road, Irving, TX 75062
m
Activities include:
Mary Schuhriemen
News Editor
The University Scholar is a journal run
by the University of Dallas' Phi Beta
Kappa chapter. Each year, the University
Scholar seeks undergraduate submissions of
scholarly work, creative fiction or poetry and
two- or three-dimensional artwork for publication.
Submission guidelines can be found on the
English department website at www.udallas.edu/
acaclemics/undergrad/majors/english/uscholar.
Submissions should be no longer than eight
pages, double-spaced with 12 point font, and
can be submitted either by e-mailing them to
The.University.Scholar@hotmail.com or by
dropping off a hard copy with Concetta Nolan
at the Braniff Graduate Office. Please include a
coversheet. The deadline for submissions is Oct.
16.
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Islamic culture from around the world
Fun, interactive booths
Delicious delicacies from the Muslim World
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Phone: 972.812.2230, ext. 1005
Email: outreach(S)irvingmasjid.org
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Nelson, Heather. The University News (Irving, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 4, Ed. 1 Tuesday, September 29, 2009, newspaper, September 29, 2009; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth201505/m1/2/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Dallas.