Nearly 60 people connected with Samford University in Birmingham recently got a taste of hunger issues around the world.
Those attending the Nov. 8 “hunger banquet” were broken into the three main class levels in the world — upper, middle and lower — and served according to their level. Food distribution was proportionate to international income statistics, banquet leaders explained. Those in the upper class sat at a table and had a full course meal, while the middle class sat in chairs and had beans and rice in individual bowls and the lower class sat on the floor with one big bowl of rice with no utensils.
“It was eye-opening,” said Haley Heckman, Samford University Ministries’ social justice coordinator.
The event was organized by campus chapters of Oxfam (an international relief organization) and Bread for the World (national anti-hunger organization), member organizations of University Ministries’ social justice committee.
“The [hunger banquet’s] purpose was to [give] people a small symbolic glimpse of how different classes interact and receive different privileges simply because they were born into a lifestyle where they were not trapped in poverty,” said Mary Ladd, who heads the Samford chapter of Oxfam. “[It was] to allow people to see how privileged they are and focus on how they could use the life they have been blessed with to help others in a tangible way.”
Throughout the meal, participants were presented with the real-life stories of actual people representative of each class. A discussion followed the meal, facilitated by Suzanne Martin of Samford’s office of student services. She challenged those in attendance to make a difference in the fight against hunger.
Ladd said the message hit home.
“People spoke of how they wanted to use whatever occupation they ended up pursuing to seek justice and assist people who need a hand up and not a hand out.” (TAB)
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