Minnesota FFA chapter tackles issues of hunger, poverty at banquet

http://www.postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1448789

The Plainview-Elgin-Millville FFA chapter in Minnesota recently hosted a Hunger Banquet at their school to help their classmates gain a greater understanding of hunger and poverty.

At a hunger banquet,guests draw tickets at random that assign them each to either a high-,
middle-, or low-income tier–based on the latest statistics about the number of people living in poverty. Each income level receives a corresponding meal: the 15 percent in the high-income tier are served a sumptuous meal; the 35 percent in the middle-income section eat a simple meal of rice and beans; and the 50 percent in the low-income tier help themselves to small portions of rice and water. Guests can also assume characterizations that describe the situation of a specific person at the income level to which they’ve been assigned. Finally, all guests are invited to share their thoughts after the meal.


FFA member Kimberly Wingard says she first participated in a hunger banquet when she attended FFA's Washington Leadership Conference.

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Are you interested in hosting a hunger banquet at your school?

Free resources are available through Oxfam America.