Friday, October 12, 2012

Widener to Celebrate National Food Day with Series of Educational Events



Events call attention to food access issues in Chester and celebrate the national movement for healthy, affordable and sustainable food

CHESTER, Pa. –Widener University has planned a series of educational events to celebrate Food Day—the nationwide celebration and movement toward more healthy, affordable and sustainable food and a better food system. A majority of the university’s events, which are all free and open to the public, will take place on Food Day, which falls every year on Oct. 24.

“Food Day is an opportunity to celebrate real food and the growing movement to fix the food system. Many of our students, faculty, staff and community partners came together last year to mark the first-ever Food Day, and this year, they’re working together once again to create a series of events to educate the campus and surrounding communities about food issues we face as a nation and specifically in Chester,” said Dr. Caryl Carpenter, chair of Widener University’s Food Day Committee.

Widener’s Main Campus Food Day events include:

Wednesday, Oct. 24; 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Community Partner Fair and Student Poster Display on Food Day Principles; University Center Atrium
  • Obtain information related to Food Day initiatives – and healthy snacks – provided by ARAMARK, Greener Partners, Philabundance and the Chester Co-op; Learn more about Food Day through posters created by Widener students
Wednesday, Oct. 24; 7 p.m.Screening of The Weight of the Nation, Part 4: Challenges; University Center Webb Room
  • View a documentary on the challenges of fighting obesity in America, especially in urban areas, and then join in a discussion on food policy with representatives from the Food Trust.
Wednesday, Oct. 31; 12 p.m.Lecture: The $100 Cheeseburger, Exploring the Real Costs of Factory-Farmed Food in America; University Center Webb Room
  • Learn about the health and environmental impacts of factory-farmed food at a lecture by School of Law Assistant Dean Verne Smith.
In addition to the events outlined above, Widener Law in Wilmington, Del., will hold its own Food Day lectures and student poster display, and Widener education faculty have planned an educational seminar focused on gaining access to healthy food options and healthy eating for Widener Partnership Charter School parents.

For more information about any of Widener’s Food Day events, contact Allyson Roberts at alroberts@widener.edu or 610-499-4244.

Food Day is a chance to celebrate what our food system does right and take action to bring us closer to a food system with “real food” that is produced with care for the environment, animals and the women and men who grow, harvest and serve it. Food Day’s priorities are to:
  • Promote safer, healthier diets
  • Support sustainable and organic farms
  • Reduce hunger
  • Reform factory farms to protect the environment
  • Support fair working conditions for food and farm workers


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