Chaminade Julienne students work to end hunger

DAYTON — After seeing News Center 7 Anchor Cheryl McHenry’s report on food deserts this spring, five students at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School are working to combat hunger.

It’s part of their senior “Capstone Project,” a social justice initiative.

The U.S. Agriculture Department defines food deserts as urban neighborhoods and rural towns without ready access to fresh, healthy and affordable food. Instead of supermarkets and grocery stores, these communities may have no food access or are served only by fast food restaurants and convenience stores.

The lack of access contributes to a poor diet, higher levels of obesity and other diet-related diseases such as diabetes, agency experts say.

The Dayton metropolitan area ranks worst in Ohio and ninth in the country in terms of hardship. Because of that, the group hopes to collect and donate 2,000 pounds of produce to the food pantry at Catholic Social Services by this fall.

They have reached the halfway point – after just three weeks.

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