The “WHY” of the Hunger Network

Featured blog from the desk of Steven Vaccaro, Development Intern

Every day at 12 and 5, I go to the Baldwin Wallace Student Union for lunch and dinner.  Some days are better than others, but usually I find myself wondering what the meals would be like somewhere else.  Regardless of what I am eating, being around my friends at these hours and enjoying the time we have together is what I am most thankful for.  The Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland provides this moment for friends and families around the Greater Cleveland Area.

This past week I was able to see firsthand the “why” of the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland.  Many times I often find myself becoming so concerned with administrative work where I begin to forget the real reason why I am doing it.  The Hunger Network is able to provide 60,000 meals a month, but what it provides with that meal is so much more. It provides a sense of community for everyone involved.

While volunteering at Community Corner, a hunger center in the Cleveland area, I was able to shadow Raul, a father who is about to graduate from the University of Akron with a degree in Business Administration, while also working as a staff member at the center.  At the site, Raul greeted everyone who walked through the door.  I could tell that his simple acts of personal communication were just as powerful as the food itself.  As I learned more about Raul, I began to get the feeling that over his three years at Community Corner, he has learned just as much as I have in any of my classes. In college, it is often easy to get consumed by difficult classes and over-involvement; Raul clearly mastered this balance. As a passionate father, motivational leader, driven manager, and, most importantly, a friend, Raul leads by example, and he is someone that I strive to model. He is a prime example of the “why” of the Hunger Network, he does much more than help coordinate business at the hunger center, he fosters a sense of community that brings joy and creates happiness.

Getting to spend the afternoon in someone else’s shoes helped me see my life in another light.  Many times I find myself “sleep walking” through my day going through my normal routine. It is easy to get into this pattern and, as a college student, my schedule is very tight, with little room for free time.  With the rest of my last semester ahead of me, I plan on taking time to treasure my supportive surrounding community, and hopefully help others, like the Hunger Network has done to thousands in the Greater Cleveland Area.

United We BrunchED

On Saturday, Cleveland gathered for a first-time event hosted by Cleveland Scene Magazine. Over 1,000 people attended the inaugural United We Brunch, presented by Hillcrest Foodservice, in support of the Hunger Network – and brunch, did they ever! Held at the historic and newly-renovated, 5^th Street Arcade, the sold out crowd enjoyed bites of brunch favorites from restaurants across the city.

Tasty treats were provided from over 40 restaurants such as Urban Farmer, TownHall, Barrio, Grovewood Tavern, and the new Adega located in The 9 Hotel. The food was top-notch as many snuck back for seconds as they strolled through the Downtown venue.

No brunch is complete without cocktails! The event partnered with Tito’s Vodka and hosted a bar featuring Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas for guests to sip on as a DJ spun today’s top music. In addition to the delicious brunch food, there were other tables set up by local companies, such as The Art Box, Fusion Inc. Salon & Day Spa, On Point Promotions t-shirt sales and of course, the Hunger Network!

It was an honor to be part of this very Cleveland-event, and we are so glad to hear that everyone enjoyed the event. Requests are already in for a repeat – stay tuned for more info!

Food Is the True Health Care

Fact: how you treat food is how you treat your health.

Unfortunately for so many of our Hunger Center clients, the resources that are required to maintain healthy diet and lifestyle are lacking.  This is where the Hunger Network’s Stay Well Project has flourished.  Every month, the Stay Well Project executes food demonstrations and distribute simple recipes to clients. These recipes use readily available, inexpensive, healthful foods to show our clients that, even on a budget, it is possible to allow food to serve as medicine. 

[Cheri Collier, RD, Diabetes Partnership of Greater Cleveland, holds interactive discussion with Hunger Center clients about healthy diet]

January’s Stay Well program topic is: Healthy New Years.  We have compiled a recipe and food demonstration that costs only $5 to feed a family of four. These specific recipes feature a nutritiously complete, whole-grain, delicious meal using only items found at the “Dollar Store.”  In all honestly, more often than not, a “Dollar Store” is the only nearby location to purchase foods for our food insecure clients.  The Hunger Network recently hired a Dietetics Intern, Brett Jones; and under the guidance of Resident Dietitians (RDs), Jones prepares simple recipes in front of our clients to show them just how easy it can be to cook healthy, home-cooked meals with the resources available. 

The Stay Well Project is lucky to work with a host of community partners that assist in promoting the use as food as medicine.  The Diabetes Partnership of Greater Cleveland (DPGC), for example, often sends RDs to our events to guide clients with dietary choices.  Stay Well is also working with the DPGC and Case Western Reserve University to implement a long-term dietary education course for clients that have been identified as pre-diabetic or diabetic.  This is a new and exciting opportunity to give Hunger Network clients more opportunities and resources to change their lifestyles…and changing their lifestyle can prevent/manage diabetes!

Another partnership we are very excited about is with VitaMix, who recently donated a brand new food processing machine to our program to assist us with food demonstrations.  This generous gift will prove to be invaluable in educating our clients onsite in how to prepare healthy smoothies, sauces, etc. on a budget. 

We are so grateful to all of our community partners, our hunger center managers and volunteers who work tirelessly to reduce hunger and poverty. We are thankful that our clients faithfully attend Stay Well events monthly, and engage with the growing Stay Well Project team. In addition to Jones, Briana Fair also joins the team as an intern who will assist in the implementation of programming, evaluation and follow-up.  Without the help of so many individuals, organizations, institutions, etc., we would not easily see the amount of success that the Hunger Network’s Stay Well Project has seen in such a short time.  Thank you to everyone who supports our cause in helping people change their diet and lifestyle choices to become and STAY WELL!