A luncheon with chili and pumpkin is what the Dietetics Department will be serving up at their annual “Souper Way To Give” event.
The event will raise hunger awareness and funds for The Foodbank, Inc. According to Nora Schaefer, a professor at the Dietetics Department, the event gives students a way to learn and yet to help the community as well.
Dietetic students will prepare 100 to 125 servings of a variety of chili recipes and pumpkin cupcakes.
“During the planning phase the dietetic students collaborate with both the Hospitality Management and Art Departments. Students in the Artisan Bread class provide the multigrain bread bowls, and students from the Art Department design pottery bowls to remind participants that there are empty bowls in the world,” Schaefer said.
The Dietetic students will also provide an educational display on a theme. This year it will be “The Lunchtime Hunger program.” The students will develop educational resources for Sinclair students.
Schaefer hopes that students will take the resources given and learn how to cook on a budget.
“The purpose of the resources is to help students stretch their food dollars and utilize basic kitchen and cooking essentials. The goal is for students to be able to prepare and purchase nutritious, tasty and affordable food on a budget,” Schaefer said.
Students will also put on a PowerPoint presentation about hunger awareness throughout the Miami Valley.
“The PowerPoint is displayed on all three screens in the Tartan Terrace Restaurant for participants to view while eating their lunch. The dramatic photos and facts revealed about hunger often become a conversation piece among guests at the table,” Schaefer said.
The luncheon was by RSVP only and is completely full this year. However, for students who attend, Schaefer says that they will learn about food hunger and gain an awareness for it.
“Students who attend will gain an awareness of hunger on Sinclair campus and the community. Students will also learn about the Lunchtime Hunger program and how to access food insecurity,” she said.
According to Schaefer, the chili luncheon is a great way to help out the community and gives Dietetic students great pride.
“The outpouring generous support from Sinclair faculty, staff and students to help support the fight against hunger on campus and in the community. How proud the dietetic students are from their hard work and positive outcome. Each year we raise approximately $1,200 to $1,300. Every dollar donated provides four meals for hungry students and their families in the Miami Valley. Through our efforts we provide about 4,800 to 5,200 meals,” she said.
The donations will go to The Foodbank, Inc. The Foodbank, Inc. distributes food monthly to Sinclair students through the Dayton Mobile Food Pantry service. In 2015, Foodbank distributed 9 million pounds of food including 2.6 million pounds of fresh produce.
This year the pottery bowls were donated through Realizing Ethnic Awareness and Cultural Heritage Across Dayton. REACH Across Dayton had a community art project called “Build A Bowl with Bing and Bob.” Participants in the art project created 80 bowls made from stoneware clay. Every bowl created was fired and glazed by volunteer Sinclair art interns. The bowls were donated to the Sinclair Dietetics Program for the Annual Chili Luncheon.
The bowls are available to buy at the luncheon for those who wish to donate further. They will cost $10.
The Souper Way to Give event will take place on Oct. 26. All proceeds from the luncheon will go to The Foodbank, Inc. to help feed the hungry.
Laina Yost
Managing Editor