William Woods University Nutrition Student Benjamin Struemph Learns by Doing

2014 Dec 18

Students in the nutrition class at William Woods University recently set out to investigate whether hunger is a problem in the United States.

Participants included Benjamin Struemph of Jefferson City, Missouri.

First, they were asked to read two articles on the topic, one supporting a "yes" position and the other claiming "no." Armed with the arguments for and against, they headed to SERVE, which houses the Food Bank serving Fulton and Callaway County.

At SERVE, they sorted canned goods and stacked shelves. They also were tasked with creating a nutrient-dense dish using foods they saw as plentiful in the Food Bank. A cook-off followed, with taco casserole being proclaimed the winner.

"Going to the Food Bank is a great service learning project," Cindy Robb, assistant professor of athletic training, said. Many students have never experienced the food bank and it is eye opening for them. Our students are often surprised by how rewarding volunteering is. Often times they return to help on their own."