Asheville, North Carolina is among the list of cities experiencing the highest levels of food insecurity in the nation. In North Carolina, 81% of households receiving food assistance don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and 36% of food pantries in the state have had to turn people away for lack of food.
In Southwest Missouri, more than 170,000 individuals (16%) continue to face food insecurity. These individuals are “unsure of where their next meal will come from and, unfortunately, 20% of these individuals have income levels that disqualify them for receiving government assistance” (Ozarks Food Harvest Map the Gap Study, 2012)
Asheville, our newest Immersion Trip, will focus on dealing with the issue of food security, as well as health and wellness in the local community. Missouri State students will spend their Spring Break 2015 working with organizations that strive to educate the the Asheville, NC community on building better lives for all. They will bring this knowledge and experience back to Springfield, MO!