In the United States, over 35 million people struggle with food insecurity. This issue is particularly prevalent in rural areas, where access to fresh, affordable food is limited. In Southwest Minnesota, many K-12 and college students face hunger on a regular basis. In response to this challenge, SMSU Enactus launched Mindful Meals, a student-led initiative to repurpose food and close the hunger gap.
What is Mindful Meals?
Mindful Meals is a community-driven effort to reduce food waste and increase access to healthy, nutritious meals for students in need. The initiative is based on the simple but powerful idea that food should never go to waste when there are people in our community who are hungry.
The program collects surplus food from local grocery stores, restaurants, and farms and repurposes it into nutritious meals for K-12 and college students. Volunteers from SMSU Enactus and the Marshall-area community work with local schools and colleges to distribute the meals to students who would otherwise go hungry.
How can you get involved?
SMSU Enactus is seeking volunteers to help with Mindful Meals. Whether you are a student, community member, or business owner, there are many ways to get involved and make a difference.
Here are some ways you can help:
Volunteer your time: Mindful Meals relies on volunteers to collect and repurpose food, prepare meals, and distribute them to students. If you are passionate about reducing food waste and fighting hunger, we would love to have you on our team.
Donate food: Do you have surplus food that would otherwise go to waste? Consider donating it to Mindful Meals. We accept donations from local grocery stores, restaurants, and farms.
Spread the word: Help us raise awareness about the Mindful Meals initiative. Share our social media posts, tell your friends and family about our program, and encourage others to get involved.
Why should you get involved?
Volunteering with Mindful Meals is a great way to make a difference in your community. By repurposing food and providing healthy meals to students in need, you can help close the hunger gap in Southwest Minnesota. In addition, volunteering with Mindful Meals is a great way to meet new people, gain valuable skills, and make a positive impact on your community.
The Mindful Meals initiative is a powerful example of what can happen when a community comes together to address a pressing issue. By repurposing food and providing healthy meals to students in need, we can reduce food waste and fight hunger in our community. If you are interested in volunteering with Mindful Meals, we encourage you to reach out to SMSU Enactus and learn more about how you can get involved. Together, we can make a difference and build a stronger, more resilient community.