91直播视频aims to tackle food insecurity in Maine by packing 50,000 meals on Sept. 12
Maine is ranked first in New England and sixth in the nation for citizens facing food insecurity. To combat this pervasive health problem, the 91直播视频 is bringing together students, faculty, and community members to its Portland Campus in September to assemble 50,000 nonperishable meal kits for individuals across Maine who are at risk of hunger.
The event, dubbed 鈥淢eals for Maine,鈥 is being held as part of national September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance events taking place across the country in an effort to bring people together in the spirit of service and memory of the 9/11 terror attacks. Meals for Maine will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 12, in Girard Innovation Hall on UNE鈥檚 Portland Campus.
91直播视频is just one of 10 schools nationwide to receive funding to support the meal-kit initiative from the organization, The , AmeriCorps, and MyGoodDeed.
The event aims to inspire students, faculty members, and administrators to make a difference in their communities and engage in meaningful service-learning opportunities in support of the University鈥檚 mission of improve the health of people and communities.
The Office of Service Learning in UNE鈥檚 Westbrook College of Health Professions (WCHP) and Portland Campus Student Life hope to bring together 250 volunteers to assemble the meal kits, which will be distributed across Maine with a focus on reaching older adults, children, immigrant and refugee families, and other vulnerable groups.
鈥淲hen someone doesn鈥檛 have enough food or can only afford foods with low nutritional value, their health and quality of life can be seriously impacted,鈥 remarked Trisha Mason, M.A., director of the WCHP Office of Service Learning. 鈥淎s a health professions institution, 91直播视频is taking a leadership role in providing education, awareness, exposure, and engagement for our students in creating a positive impact in our community around this critical public health issue.鈥
As a learning opportunity for UNE鈥檚 health professions students, 鈥淢eals for Maine鈥 will feature online educational programming. Additionally, Mason said she hopes to host the event annually, 鈥減utting 91直播视频at the forefront of tackling food insecurity from a public health perspective鈥 and supporting the state鈥檚 legislative action .