Combating Global Hunger: A Collaborative Effort

On September 12th, BYU students had the opportunity to learn about the combined efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the World Food Program in addressing the global issue of hunger. The event, titled "US Against Hunger: Collaborating to Care for Those in Need," was hosted by the Ballard Center for Social Impact and featured speakers Sharon Eubank, director of Latter-day Saint Charities, and Barron Segar, CEO and president of World Food Program USA.

Uniting to Eradicate Hunger Worldwide

Addressing Hunger at Home and Abroad

Segar emphasized the importance of addressing hunger both in local communities and on a global scale. "We have to be concerned about hunger in our backyard, as well as around the world," he said. Segar expressed his belief that the world can achieve a future without hunger, but noted that significant changes are necessary to ensure access and training for those in need.Eubank, on the other hand, highlighted the role that faith and covenants play in addressing worldwide food insecurity issues as members of the Church. She stated that eradicating worldwide hunger is a global priority for the Church, and that the potential to achieve this goal is present.

Collaborative Efforts and the Zero Hunger Generation

Segar expressed his gratitude for the Church's involvement with the World Food Program, stating that "there is no other faith-based organization that does as much impact." The event featured two videos from the Church, showcasing the collaborative work being done between the Church and the World Food Program.During the event, the World Food Program announced their initiative of the "Zero Hunger Generation," which aims to end acute hunger by 2030. Dawson Helmbold, a BYU senior and intern with the World Food Program, shared that this collaboration with BYU is the first of its kind, marking a significant milestone in the fight against global hunger.

The Importance of Domestic and Global Efforts

Rebecca Middleton, the chief advocacy and engagement officer of World Food Program USA, emphasized the importance of addressing hunger on both the domestic and global scales. "It's not either local hunger or global hunger; it's an and," Middleton said, highlighting the interconnectedness of these issues.Middleton shared that she felt led by God to enter this line of work, underscoring the moral and spiritual imperative to combat hunger worldwide. She also noted that the fight against world hunger is a unifying issue, with members of Congress who may disagree on other matters coming together to address this pressing concern.

Food as a Human Right

Segar echoed the sentiment that food is a fundamental human right, both in Provo and around the world. "We have so many similarities. Food is a human right. It's a human right here in Provo, and a human right half-way around the world," he shared.This event at BYU provided a platform for Eubank and Segar to share their insights and inspire students to become active participants in the global effort to eradicate hunger. By highlighting the collaborative work between the Church and the World Food Program, as well as the moral and spiritual imperative to address this issue, the speakers aimed to empower the next generation to join the fight against worldwide food insecurity.