Bucknell Community Engagement Newsletter - February 2025

“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.”

– Maya Angelou

Center News:

Our center co-authored a VISTA AmeriCorps Project Grant with Central Susquehanna Opportunities, INC (CSO) that was successfully selected to receive funding for a second year! This VISTA Project grant will allow our Center and CSO to continue to build capacity to collectively respond to food security in the SUN region. The project will continue to analyze the results of the SUN Food Mapping Project and support Food Programs such as Community Harvest and Mobile Food Pantry.

Our food team is reading The Painful Truth About Hunger in America: Why We Must Unlearn Everything We Think We Know–and Start Again by Mariana Chilton. We’re only through the introduction and already have unlearned a lot about hunger in America. We highly recommend this book to dive deeper into our country's systems and processes that result in hunger. We also recommend this interview, What To Expect From the New Administration on Food and Nutrition Policy with Helena Bottemiller Evivch, newsletter founder and editor-in-chief of Food Fix on Spotlight on Poverty & Opportunity.

In celebration of February’s regional United Way Be Kind campaign sponsored by Evangelical Community Hospital WellSpan, and to recognize this month as National Random Acts of Kindness Month, CCELLR is inviting students, faculty, and staff to Be Kind to the Community throughout the month. Whether it’s volunteering through Engaged Bucknell, coordinating or contributing to a donation drive for a local partner organization, or writing notes of encouragement or appreciation to first responders and seniors, we encourage campus members to get involved. Campus members can share their kind acts for a chance to win prizes by tagging us in a social media post (@bu_community_engaged) or emailing Stacey Piecuch at sjp022@bucknell.edu with a description or photos of your kindness in action. For more ideas on how to practice kindness, see the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

Tuesday, February 18, 5:00-7:00pm: NAACP Historic Wealth Gap Interactive presentation: In partnership with Lycoming Tri County NAACP - NAACP 2348, the Center for Community Engaged Leadership, Learning & Research will be hosting a Historic Wealth Gap interactive presentation on Tuesday, February 18th from 5:00-7:00 PM in the Center Room of the Elaine Langone Center. This interactive presentation will share the history of why there is such a present-day gap in wealth accumulation. The presentation will open up conversations about how we got here, what we can do, and where we go from here to make the changes needed.

This event is open to Bucknellians and the local community

Snacks will be provided

Registration is REQUIRED to attend: https://forms.gle/ajn6jrPXEcWwzqS2A and space is limited.

Tuesday, March 4, 5:00-6:30pm, Food Hub @ Miller Center: Dinner & Dialogue: This will be our Spring semester Dinner & Dialogue event. We are partnering with The Union-Snyder Community Action Agency's Food Hub staff. They will share information about the completed SUN(Snyder Union Northumberland) Hunger Mapping Project results as it relates to responding to food insecurity in our region. Click here to RSVP, space is limited.

Girls on the Run’s local Central PA Chapter will begin it’s Spring ‘25 season on Feb. 24th and is in need of Volunteer Coaches, if interested apply here. Spring ‘25 team locations include Selinsgrove Intermediate School, Linntown Intermediate School, Mifflinburg Intermediate School, Shikellamy Elementary School and Warrior Run Jr/ Sr. High School.

Current Engaged Bucknell Opportunities (a few are highlights below, but Check out Engaged Bucknell at the ‘Opportunities’ link to review all volunteer opportunities):

Community Harvest Meal Program (Milton): Volunteers needed 1-3pm or 3-5pm (up to 5 individuals) every Monday.

Lewisburg Ice Fest at the Lewisburg Children's Museum: Volunteers needed for an interactive winter-themed activity!

Ronald McDonald House Meal Prep and Serving for Families- Danville RMD, next to Geisinger Medical Center- up to 8 volunteers are needed on various days in February from 4:30-6:30pm to bring meal ingredients, prepare and serve a meal for families of sick children.

The Getting Ahead Foundation has a continued need for volunteers in a variety of roles, including childcare, meal preparation, transportation, and resources or talents to share to program participants. If interested, contact Rose Williams at rose@gettingaheadfoundation.org or sign up as an interested volunteer on Engaged Bucknell.