Campus Community Sees What it Means to ‘Eat, Learn, Co-Op’

“Eat, Learn, Co-Op,” a cooperative program developed by Frostburg State University [FSU] and the Wholesome Harvest Co-Op in downtown Frostburg, was held on Tuesday, April 23 at 5 p.m. Attendees were given the opportunity to interact with displays from stakeholders in the local food movement, including Leaning Pine Farms, PAWS Pantry, Allegany County Recycling Center, and Chartwell’s Catering. The program also featured a forum discussion lead by Dr. Elesha Ruminski, a Professor in the Department of Communication at FSU, who asked three questions for consideration.

The first question dealt with delivering food services to those that need them. Melanie Hutter, AmeriSTAR Coordinator for the PAWS Pantry, discussed her successes using multiple platforms of communication in order to promote the pantry and make students aware of their services. Rev. Karen Crosby of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Frostburg described a summer lunch program that she and her husband work with which provides support to students whose households are food insecure. An Allegany College of Maryland student, Antonio Cummings, spoke about the necessity of delivery service for those that are in need of food support. Cummings further elaborated his point before asking, “I mean, just how much do you actually want to help?”

The second question posed to the group was about bringing awareness to other issues related to food insecurity. Chartwell’s Executive Chef, Adam Kenney, offered details about the ongoing composting project on FSU’s campus and the many ways his staff have sought to be more environmentally friendly. Kenney told fellow participants that over “250 pounds of food waste are eliminated daily.” Tracy Edwards, coordinator of the Sustainability Studies Program, mentioned the Food Recovery Network and how students have been instrumental in bringing excess food items to those in need. 

The final question was “how do we reach out to people in need of food support?” Participants suggested finding new ways to engage with existing frameworks, including email, bulletin boards, and student announcements. The consensus among students and faculty was that incoming first-year students are mostly unaware of these community benefits. Thus, participants concluded that packets of information for Resident Assistants and ORIE instructors to disseminate would help bring awareness to this growing issue.

The evening concluded with a guided tour of the Wholesome Harvest Co-Op located at 30 W. Main Street. Kitchen Manager Whitney LaMont offered a delicious spread of Wholesome Harvest’s ready-to-eat offerings, which are served daily for lunch and dinner. Participants were able to explore the space and learn about the mission of the Co-Op, which is to bring local, organic, and bulk food items to their shoppers. Notable items in stock include high-quality meat cuts from local farmers, international food items, and conscientious personal care items, such as toothpaste and shaving creams.

The issue of food insecurity is a growing one, both nationally and locally. What is clear, however, is the commitment of the university community, the City of Frostburg, and representatives from Allegany County organizations to battle this problem and find a way to help those in need.