CLU Interfaith Allies Host an OXFAM Hunger Banquet

California Lutheran University Interfaith Allies is an interfaith organization that uses interfaith cooperation, dialogue, and service to build a more inclusive campus.  This year, Interfaith Allies is focused on issues of hunger in the local community. On Thursday April 10th, the group hosted an OXFAM Hunger Banquet to start a movement of change on campus by raising awareness of world hunger and helping students make a difference in the community. Over the past 40 years, more than 850,000 people have participated in an OXFAM Hunger Banquet where participants are randomly assigned to a high to low income class based on statistics worldwide. Some are born into a relatively prosperous class, but most are not.  Each income level receives a meal that corresponds with their class, and a script is read to guide guests through the event. The Cal Lutheran event began with outlining global hunger issues of then moved to local issues of hunger and food production in our own community.  Half of the approximately 50 participants were assigned to the low income class.  They sat on the floor and were served rice that was left over after the middle class group had eaten their meals of beans and rice.  The high income group sat at a formal dining table and were served a nutritious four course hot meal.  After dinner, Manna joined representatives from Food Share and Abundant Table to present our respective organizations and opportunities for students to get involved in becoming part of the solution to local hunger issues.