Surrounded by heaping piles of pasta, garlic bread and meatballs, Ohio State students gathered Tuesday for a hunger banquet in an effort to raise awareness about the issues associated with malnutrition and starvation.

“The point of this hunger banquet is to raise awareness about hunger, and to equip people to do small things to help those in Columbus and others around the world who do not have enough food,” said Patricia Cunningham, a member of the Ohio Union Activities Board Graduate/Professional Committee, which sponsored the event.

More than 30 people attended the banquet to learn about hunger and its consequences in Ohio. Many were students from Cunningham’s black male leadership class, others were graduate students who are members of the OUAB committee. Sitting around four large tables in groups of 10, the students discussed how they could help.

“I always enjoy coming out and learning new things,” said Jaron Murphy, a senior in computer science and engineering. “But I’ve been ignorant to the fact that there is so much hunger in Ohio. It really hits home that it’s in Columbus too.”

Cunningham said she wants to promote social justice and create a “hunger dialogue.”

“We want to bring people together so we can help solve this problem and do things to combat hunger in Ohio,” she said.

She said the Children’s Hunger Alliance is a useful resource for information about the status of hungry children in Ohio.

According to the Web site, the Children’s Hunger Alliance “works to raise awareness of hunger trends and consequences and what more can be done to end this debilitating social condition by serving as a resource to Ohio’s elected officials, community and service organizations, and other parties.”

According to childrenshungeralliance.org, one in six children is hungry or at risk of hunger in Ohio. Statewide, more than 500,000 children are hungry or at a risk of being hungry each day.

Without food, children can suffer from health problems, exhibit disruptive behavior, are more likely to be tardy or absent from school and score lower on achievement tests, according to the Web site.

“Isn’t it hard to pay attention in class when you’re hungry?” Cunningham asked the room. With the resounding answer of “Yes” echoing across the small room, she said hunger can be immobilizing, especially for children.

Another resource helpful to ending hunger is the Hunger Network in Ohio, Cunningham said. According to the Web site, 35 percent of children who receive emergency assistance are under the age of 18. In any given week, 207,700 Ohioans receive emergency food assistance. The Web site says poverty is largely responsible for hunger and unemployment.

Cunningham said one in 10 students in college come from below the poverty line, meaning most college students are not poor.

“Therefore, this means we can each do something to help!” she said.

Yet many students in the audience thought the hunger issue is seeded from entirely different problems – problems stemming from the historical disenfranchisement of people of color, imperialism and colonialism.

“It’s one thing to be poor, and another to be poor in a rich man’s country,” said Chigo Ekeke, a sophomore in biochemistry. He said Americans take advantage of all the resources they have but do not always give back to the communities.

Cunningham urged the audience to help in any way they can. She said a donation of $20 can buy 20 baby chickens for families in the Caribbean, through programs founded by Heifer International, a nonprofit organization. One chicken can produce more than 200 eggs, she said.

“It’s not about giving people handouts, it’s about getting people involved to help themselves,” Cunningham said. “It’s an empowerment thing.”

Other ways to help include donating canned goods, non-perishable items and toiletries to food banks across central Ohio, Cunningham said. The Mid-Ohio Foodbank, at 1625 W. Mound St., or Fruit of the Vine Community Center Pantry, at 181 E. Fifth Ave., are places to start, she said.

Danielle Grodek, a sophomore in international studies and Arabic, was happy she attended the banquet.

“[Hunger] is devastating,” she said. “But it is interesting to see the ways in which we can help.”

At the end of the banquet, students walked away with bags of the leftover food.

“We’re not gonna let this food go to waste!” someone shouted.

Mariam Khan can be reached at [email protected].