Students in the dietetics and nutritional management program at Sinclair Community College are no strangers to the benefits of service learning.
“Service learning is a great program because the community benefits while students are learning,” says Kim Brubaker, associate professor in the exercise, nutrition and sport sciences department.
During the Fall Quarter of 2011, dietetics students participated in service learning that aided in distributing food to needy families, in partnership with The Food Bank, Stillwater Church and Greater Works Church.
“Students are involved in service learning in their first year [of the dietetics program],” says Brubaker.
First year students assist in loading donated food items onto trucks at The Food Bank, the trucks then transport the items to Greater Works Church in Trotwood. At Greater Works Church, first year students assist individuals in ‘shopping’ for items that they need based on the number of people in their household, says Brubaker.
Before ‘shopping,’ participants are given a brief informational presentation by second year Dietetics students. The second year students prepare a food item for sampling using ingredients that the individuals receive. Along with being able to sample the food items, participants are given copies of recipes so they can prepare the items on their own.
“We are looking to educate people on how to utilize the food that they receive. One time when we highlighted a recipe involving turkey, a lady came up to me and admitted that she didn’t know what to do with the turkey she was getting, so she was feeding it to her dog. Now she will be able to know what to do with the food that she receives,” says Brubaker.
Students also educate on how to utilize ingredients such as turkey, mozzarella cheese and lentils.
“This [service learning] program has really made students more aware of nutritional needs in the community… It’s great because students are able to utilize what they learn in the classroom and then apply it to help others,” says Brubaker.