In honor of National Intern Day, we’re getting to know our ambitious and vibrant summer interns. We’re elated to have so many fresh faces and new ideas on the Move For Hunger team!
What are your most significant career goals and how do they resonate with you?
Andrew
My biggest career goal is to simply have a stable job where I feel valued and happy each day. I value a balance between work and personal time for family, friends, and leisure more than anything else. Any place that can provide that for me would be perfect in furthering that goal.
Ellery
My most significant career goal is to develop a program that reduces the recidivism rate in America. As a criminal justice major, I aim to support the rehabilitation of former convicts and help them properly integrate into society. This starts with promoting equity and equality for all humans by ensuring basic needs such as food security.
Gracen
My most significant career goals are to have a positive impact on people and the planet. I want to feel proud of what I am doing and the company I work for. I would like to work in the nonprofit world or in corporate social responsibility. I'm very intrinsically motivated, so overall, I just hope to wake up excited and proud of the work I do.
Hannah
My greatest professional goal is to have a career in which I’m both personally challenged and involved in addressing significant domestic economic dilemmas. I am still unsure if that career path is more research/graduate studies-based or corporate, but I’m excited to figure it out!
Jennifer
My biggest career goal is to have a job that makes me a good amount of money. I would prefer to be in the creative field such as video games, shows, or simply any company where I can be part of the design team. It resonates with me because money means my family won’t have to worry about the little things and I can go on trips and vacations. I always loved art and I find myself being happy if I pursued a career in the arts.
Rhea
My biggest career goal is to use my creative and analytical skills in combination with my passion for helping others to make a meaningful impact. I aim to leverage my unique talents to drive positive change and improve the lives of those around me. By aligning my skills with my purpose, I aspire to contribute significantly to my field and community.
Trent
My most significant career goal is to transition to a place where I’m financially stable and can be a professional creative. I'm most interested in the entertainment industry, however I’m happy with wherever I can create. Being able to brainstorm, come up with ideas, create, and connect with others who share similar interests and a similar mindset is the optimal scenario for me. I’ve always loved all things creative, writing, drawing, music, videography, and photography, as long as I’m making content I’m happy. I have a deep passion that burns for it, and I will work towards my goal with everything I’ve got.
Sasha
My most significant career goal is relieving some of the economic burdens on low income individuals. Personally, I have found my place in this battle through urban policy, and particularly the housing field. This goal resonates with me because of my belief that the environment one is raised in has a tremendous impact on their life outcomes, and particularly on their economic security. I believe that everyone deserves equal access and opportunities to build a life for themselves, which is what motivates me to pursue this career field.
Victoria
My most significant career goals are to be a leader and have a positive impact on the people I work with. I want to continue to work with non-profit organizations in the future to make a meaningful impact on community health and well-being. I am passionate about addressing food insecurity, promoting sustainable food practices, and educating underserved populations about healthy eating habits. I believe that everyone deserves access to healthy food, so in the future my goal is to be able to help others get the food that they need.
What’s the most surprising fact you've learned about hunger and food insecurity?
Andrew
While interning at Move For Hunger, I was very surprised to learn just how much food is being wasted each year. In addition, I had never realized how moving was a major contributing factor towards that amount of food.
Ellery
The most surprising fact I have learned about hunger is that for every 1% rise in food insecurity, violent crime rates increase by 12%. This was a study done at Clemson to analyze the effects of hunger on humans in America. Their goal was to demonstrate the importance of fulfilling basic human needs in order to create a functioning society.
Gracen
The most surprising facts I've learned about hunger and food insecurity is that while over 44 million people face hunger everyday, 38% of food in the US will go unsold or uneaten. So much that is being wasted is perfectly good and safe to eat but is being thrown away because of “best by” dates or out of convenience. This has shown me how important food recovery is in the fight to end hunger and from an environmental standpoint.
Hannah
I was surprised by the size of the disparity in food insecurity between members of the LGBTQIA+ community and non-members. About 27% of LGBTQIA+ people reported experiencing a time in the past year in which they could not afford to buy food, compared to the 17% of non-members. This is a reminder that the determinants of food insecurity are not always income-based but can be heavily influenced by the intersectional aspects of one’s identity.
Jennifer
I’ve always been a little invested in food insecurities around the world since my youth, but Move for Hunger really solidified a lot of my thoughts and theories into numerical facts. It was sad but interesting to see how much food is being wasted everyday.
Rhea
As an intern at Move For Hunger, I have been surprised to learn the sheer volume of food that goes to waste unnoticed. This has opened my eyes to the hidden inefficiencies in our food systems and highlighted how much edible food is discarded every day. It also showed me how simple it can be to incorporate sustainability into my daily life. Small, conscious changes proved to be both easy to implement and significantly more efficient.
Trent
I’ve only been interning at Move For Hunger for a short time, however I’ve already learned so much. I had never thought about the fact that people leave so much food behind when they move, it’s an absolute waste, and now that my eyes have been opened to that idea, I notice how frequently I’ve seen it happen. Especially at the dorms at the college I go to, with mountains of clothes in the dumpsters and every garbage bin filled with packages of different food items that are completely untouched. I also never realized just how many people around the world are dealing with hunger, and just how much it affects children.
Sasha
While it may not come across as huge, I think the most surprising fact I’ve learned is that peanut butter is one of the most sought after foods at food banks. This stuck with me because this is likely sought after by kids, and while I’ve always just considered it a basic staple in the house, this simple item is something that families anticipate having. It showed me how we often take the little things for granted that are big to someone who does not have easy access to it.
Victoria
As a recent graduate with a degree in nutrition, I already knew a lot about hunger and food insecurity. However, I never thought about how much food is wasted when people move. It’s such a simple concept, yet no one really thinks about it.
We are so thrilled to have each and every one of our interns with us. Their dedication to learning about hunger and combating food insecurity is so impactful.
