Spreading the Word
At Vermont Campus Compact Statewide Student Conference

By Julie Almeter
For Salvation Farms Winter 2006 Newsletter

December 14, 2006

In November I had the opportunity to attend an event for college students called Ideas Into Action. The 7th annual Statewide Student Conference presented by Vermont Campus Compact (VCC) focused on students involved or interested in community service, activism, and social change. I participated in various workshops as a student, two of which were very helpful: Hidden Hunger: Understanding Food Insecurity in Vermont and Defining Sustainable Responses with Emily Wexler of VTCECH and also The Glass is Half Full, Identifying and Using Community Resources with Michael Ohler and Suzanna Gary Bliss. I also had the honor of representing Salvation Farms in the Opportunities Fair where students could meet with “non-profits and socially responsible businesses.”
Attending the conference reinforced my personal involvement with Salvation Farms. I was able to share the mission of a working organization that is indeed putting “Ideas Into Action” through active service in our community. Since beginning my work with Salvation Farms I have witnessed the selfless giving of so many individuals and organizations. It was a powerful thing to convey that energy to other people my age. We are a generation searching for ways we can help, and trying to find something to actively do to create change in our world. My involvement with Salvation Farms fulfills that need in me to make the world a better place, and I witnessed the excitement of other students about joining that cause. My hope is that the connections made at VCC will blossom into productive relationships with college campuses across the state, continuing our search for solutions to hunger together. Hunger does not stand alone as a social problem. Together we can educate, empower, and encourage others to be more involved with their food systems and come to the community table to approach food security.