Hungry to Help

Story and photos by Stephen Wilson

One in seven people in the world is food insecure. The numbers in the U.S. are the same except for children. Those are worse: one in five.

Eleven pantries in Easton distribute food to those in need. With 32 percent of households below the federal poverty line, it is no surprise that nearly 52 percent, or 4,625 students, receive federally supported meals (free lunch) at area schools.

Such numbers might surprise locals as they fail to recognize hunger in their neighbors.

This data from Easton Hunger Coalition drives its mission: to eliminate hunger, provide a forum to plan interventions, and serve as a catalyst for program implementation.

• See the bottom of the article for information on Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week events at Lafayette.

Taking this mission to heart is Ryana Jones ’20.

Ryana Jones ’20

On a rainy night in Easton’s West Ward, the upper floors of St. Anthony’s Church are bustling. St. Vincent de Paul Society runs its pantry there on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.

Twenty-five volunteers help operate four rooms—medical, clothing, food, and non-perishables. Among those volunteers is Jones and the five students she coordinates for this part of her program.

Stationed at tables around the room, each student helps people in need. As a choice pantry, they allow guests to select items they want and need based on their household size. Some students offer limes, bananas, pears, apples, peppers, and potatoes while others help bag and carry out groceries.

The guests chat and laugh with the volunteers as they shop. Jones is the face guests see at the end of their visit as she consolidates items into bags and boxes.

Hailing from New Haven, Conn., Jones understands difficult circumstances.

“My community struggles with poverty and the lack of opportunity,” she says.

Madison Cass ’22

In seventh grade, she began to intervene in those struggles by volunteering in a soup kitchen, but her volunteer service truly started at a local nursing home at age eight.  Her belief in service has only grown.

During her first semester on campus, she dove in, volunteering as a tutor for America Reads, which she has maintained for three years. Add to it her work at Easton Area High School as part of Generation Next, which assists juniors and seniors with the college-application process.

But she wanted more. As program coordinator for the Hunger Coalition, she recruits students, meets community partners, provides education and training, and manages schedules for multiple pantries in Easton.

While she distributes items at St. Vincent de Paul, she helps stock and organize them in the pantry at ProJeCt of Easton.

“I believe you can’t make a change in the world if you are not involved in the community,” she says. “Change comes from working within the community, not standing removed from it. I was helping kids at their schools, but I didn’t fully understand their city and community until I went deeper.”

Elena Weinstein ’19

The government & law and women’s & gender studies double major hopes one day to open a resource center that will help her community in a holistic manner.

“I want to go further with this work, so what I am doing now is a start,” she says. “But there is always more we can do.”

Landis Center for Community Engagement has helped her refine her growing appetite for social change. It encouraged her to become a coordinator and dive into Easton.

That made all the difference. Her fellow students at St. Vincent de Paul agree.

“It is a privilege to attend Lafayette where we can eat three meals a day and feel separated from the people of Easton and their struggles,” says J’Nisha Little ‘20. “But we are here because we want to help people and learn, see, and do more.”

J’Nisha Little ‘20, Ryana Jones ’20, and Elena Weinstein ’19

It’s that attitude that has helped Nancy Walters, manager of Easton Hunger Network, maintain a growing file of college volunteers.

“They are excellent helpers and find ways to connect current leaders with future leaders so our programs and partnership can continue to thrive,” says Walters.

Jones is eager to get her fellow students off College Hill.

“If everyone helped out, the issues folks face here wouldn’t be issues,” she says. “We truly have the ability to make places better.”

Liza Makarovo ‘21