More than 200 APSU students fight world hunger during Freshman Service Project

(Posted Oct. 12, 2018)

On Saturday, Aug. 25, shortly after students returned to campus, the Austin Peay State University Center for Service-Learning and Community engagement hosted its annual Freshman Service Project. That morning, a group of 200 first-year students entered the gymnasium in the Foy Fitness and Recreation Center, unaware of what they would be doing. All they knew was that they were there to volunteer.

During the event, the students supported Rise Against Hunger, an organization that works to end hunger by providing food to the world’s most vulnerable. The process is a formulated one: first, a scoop of rice, then soy, some dehydrated vegetables, seal the bag and pack it. However, what made this process amazing was that 200 Austin Peay freshmen did this 19,000 times in the course of an hour and a half.

“It made me feel happy and excited that the bag (of food) in my hand, that I am helping to pack up, is going to reach someone across the globe, whoever that may be,” Essence Eddins, an APSU freshman, said. “I enjoyed it because it meant that we were helping other people who aren’t as fortunate to have as easy food access as we do. Helping each other is what makes the world go round.”

If you are interested in being a part of upcoming volunteer events, visit the website for Center of Service-Learning & Community Engagement at APSU at www.apsu.edu/volunteer.