NEWBURGH – Food insecurity and how life events affect households were emphasized during the RECAP Hunger Banquet held at the Fresh Start Café in Newburgh on Thursday, October 20.
Hunger banquets are held worldwide as interactive experiences to generate awareness about hunger disparity.
Participants are assigned socio-economic identities when they enter, with those in poverty receiving a small cup of oatmeal and a seat on the floor, while those assigned to a prosperous position were served a full hot breakfast meal at a table.
RECAP’s Fresh Start Café is a workforce training and development site in a café setting for long-term welfare recipients.
Participants included representatives from HONORehg and the Orange County Department of Social Services, acting out scenarios, some being forced to move from one “class” to another.
RECAP’s Chief Operations Officer Michele McKeon narrated the event with facts about poverty in Orange County and the services available to residents.
Tiara Turner and Charlene Woodson of Fresh Start Cafe’ serve breakfast
