Written by Aja Griffin<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Table, Harding University\u2019s student food resource center, supports students experiencing food insecurity. With shelves stocked with essentials and a welcoming environment, The Table is a place where students can come and be filled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emma Wolke, partnership coordinator for The Table, works with organizations on campus and in the Searcy community to strengthen the center\u2019s mission. She said the opportunity to serve in this capacity is meaningful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was inspired to work with The Table because it is a great opportunity to help people with a simple, but very important need,\u201d Wolke said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Table operates as an inclusive space where any Harding student can access food and household essentials, removing the stigma often accompanying food insecurity. Wolke has seen firsthand how valuable this resource is to students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Table is a great resource for those who are experiencing food insecurity. People are in need of food, and it is here on campus at no charge to them,\u201d Wolke said. \u201cIt is also helpful because it is open to everyone who has a Harding ID. So, if you just don\u2019t feel like going all the way to Walmart for snacks or laundry detergent, then you don\u2019t have to.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Samantha Haywood, a social media coordinator and board member for The Table, shares a passion for addressing food insecurity. Having volunteered with the Arkansas Food Bank and come from humble beginnings herself, she said she is dedicated to making a difference in the Harding community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Table helps educate people who aren\u2019t aware of what food insecurities are,\u201d Haywood said. \u201cThis helps us end the stigma of what being food insecure is and that everyone is welcome at The Table.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Haywood said awareness was imported and cited statistics that revealed the issue\u2019s depth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFood insecurity affects 30% of college students,\u201d Haywood said. \u201cStudents who are food insecure are three times more likely to drop out of college. We did a survey for students on Harding\u2019s campus, and it showed that many were food insecure. A lot of people don\u2019t realize you don\u2019t have to be starving to be food insecure. Food insecurity is based on whether you\u2019re getting the proper nutrition in your daily diet.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Estaban Munoz, The Table\u2019s data and operations coordinator, working with the center allows him to combine his skills with a meaningful cause. Munoz ensures that The Table\u2019s inventory and system data are accurate and functional, helping the center operate smoothly. He first learned about the opportunity through a friend during his sophomore year and saw it as a great fit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a Walton Scholar, many of my international friends have asked me about The Table\u2019s items in stock,\u201d Munoz said. \u201cThey\u2019ve shared with me how much of a blessing The Table is, especially when they are running low on meal swipes, DCB, or other products.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Munoz believes that more people need to recognize the reality of food insecurity on campus and how The Table provides tangible support to students in need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Table not only provides a way to serve those in need but also offers students the opportunity to take what they need, without cost,\u201d Munoz said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students and faculty can support The Table\u2019s mission through volunteering, donations, and spreading awareness. Whether through service projects, fundraisers, or simply telling a friend, there are many ways to get involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe could always use more volunteers,\u201d Wolke said. \u201cOne of the biggest things is having people there to make a friendly and comfortable environment for shoppers.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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