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To help combat the worldwide issue of food insecurity – and particularly in the Hattiesburg area — the Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE) at The University of Southern Mississippi will be hosting a Sweet Potato Drop on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Payne Center parking lot.
For the event, an 18-wheeler loaded with sweet potatoes from farmers in Vardaman, Miss., will deposit hundreds of pounds of sweet potatoes in the lot. Volunteers are needed to bag the sweet potatoes into individual family-size bags, which will be donated to local organizations such as Edward Street Fellowship Center, Salvation Army and Christian Services, for distribution to families in need.
“This event is important because we are addressing the food insecurity needs in the city,” said Christopher Ferrell, CCCE’s Program Coordinator. “We want to give students the opportunity to do service on-campus that can also impact needs in our local community. It is a partnership between USM and the community.”
CCCE has also partnered with the Office of Sustainability, who will be providing educational materials to participants about food insecurity, sustainability issues, and food production. Students from across campus will be participating through collaboration with the USM Department of Housing and Residence Life and many other units.
This event is open to the community. Individual and groups are encouraged to sign up and volunteer at this link: www.goo.gl/f0w25U.
For more information, contact Christopher Ferrell, CCCE Program Coordinator, by email at christopher.ferrell@usm.edu or by phone at 601-266-5725.
