West Orange Students, Teachers Practice Empathy For Hunger Awareness Month

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the West Orange Public School District. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Students in the Tuesday Gifted and Talented program at Central Office learned about hunger and hunger insecurity during October, took what they learned, and put it into action.

On Oct. 7, Cynthia Cumming from the Holy Trinity-West Orange Food Pantry visited the third grade gifted and talented class to talk about hunger, especially at the local level. Each student was assigned an "identity" and lined up across the room. Depending on their persona, students took a step forward or back based on statements made by Cumming. Students realized the inequity facing those that are poor and those that had livable incomes. They also learned that up to 25 percent of people in Essex County, including West Orange, were experiencing hunger and hunger insecurity, meaning that approximately 11,500 persons in West Orange may not get enough to eat every day. Many of those are children.

Cumming encouraged students to look out for one another and pay attention to their fellow classmates.

"If you see one of your friends have nothing for lunch, tell a teacher," she said.

"The school district has free and reduced lunch programs for your friends," she added, "and your teachers can help with that."

As part of their lessons during Hunger Awareness Month in October, a non-perishable food drive was run, and on Nov. 18, teachers Rebecca Giacopelli and Megan Schaller dropped off several bags.

"The students were pretty shocked to learn so many families in West Orange are food insecure. They also thought the activity was great," noted Giacopelli.

Approximately 1,750 students in West Orange experience hunger or hunger insecurity.

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