Nutrition classes raises money for Community Needs Hub

Students prepare chicken barbecue dinners
Nutrition students at Alfred State prepare chicken barbecue dinners. Their efforts raised $447 for the college’s Community Needs Hub.

At a glance

“Alfred State has put forth a mission of enhancing learning through hands-on experiences while engaging students to be involved in a caring community. As a Nutrition course, I feel it’s our responsibility to bring awareness to food insecurity and support efforts to combat it. My students had the opportunity to participate in organizing, designing, selling, and preparing meals.”

Jennifer Ross

Big Blue Ox graphic

Students in a pair of Nutrition classes taught by Jennifer Ross sold Stearn’s chicken barbecue meals to raise money for the Alfred State Community Needs Hub. The group raised $447 to be used to help other students suffering from food insecurity.

While studying the science of nutrition and its role in health promotion as well as the prevention of disease, students learned how resources play a vital role on someone’s ability to eat healthy. The class discussed that college campuses are not exempt from food insecurity and was the driving force behind the idea of hosting a fundraiser for the college’s food pantry.

Ross was impressed with the efforts of her students. “Alfred State has put forth a mission of enhancing learning through hands-on experiences while engaging students to be involved in a caring community. As a Nutrition course, I feel it’s our responsibility to bring awareness to food insecurity and support efforts to combat it. My students had the opportunity to participate in organizing, designing, selling, and preparing meals.”

The Community Needs Hub, located on the ground floor of Peet Hall, is home to a food pantry, a clothing thrift store, lab and academic loaner equipment station, and houses park trail clean-up equipment.