Miami, FL, June 12, 2017- Miami Dade College (MDC) will partner with The Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Inc. to present Nourishing in Numbers: Mind, Body and Soul, an initiative to provide food to students and bring awareness about the prevalence of hunger in schools and the community. The event will take place Saturday, June 17, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., at MDC’s Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center.
The event will also support the Center’s efforts to provide food and other support to the study body. This project addresses the national sorority’s “Family Strengthening and Childhood Hunger” initiative.
“We chose the Carrie P. Meek Center because Liberty City is a legacy community of color and home to many of our organization’s charter members,” said Andrea Robinson, Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter President. “Also, because food insecurity – the lack of reliable access to sufficient quantities of affordable, nutritious food – is common amongst college students. We are committed to doing our part to reduce hunger in our community.”
A recent study conducted by the National Student Campaign against Hunger and Homelessness surveyed 3,765 college students on food insecurity in 12 states attending eight community colleges and 26 four-year colleges and universities and found:
- Food insecurity occurs at both two-year and four-year institutions. Twenty-five percent of community college students qualified as having very low food security, compared to 20 percent at four-year schools.
- Food insecurity was more prevalent among students of color. Approximately 57 percent of Black or African American students reported food insecurity, compared to 40 percent of non-Hispanic white students.
- More than half of all first-generation students (56 percent) were food insecure, compared to 45 percent of students who had at least one parent who attended college.
The Nourishing in Numbers: Mind, Body and Soul community service project will consist of organizing and stocking the Center’s food pantry, redecorating the Dress for Success closet and stuffing book bags.
Donations are welcomed. The following items are being accepted: hygienic products, non-perishable food items, school supplies and recently cleaned and gently used career clothing.
Volunteers are needed to assist with sorting and packing donations. To volunteer and/or to donate, please call 305-237-1900.
The Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter is the first graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in Florida and has provided 77 years of service to the Greater Miami Community.
The Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center is an outreach center of Miami Dade College North Campus, founded in 1989. The center offers a specified emphasis on entrepreneurship, and economic and community development.