How do you define “sustainable”?
In April 2023, Great Lakes Women’s Business Council companies met in Michigan at the Beyond Sustainability conference to learn about 17 goals to guide future development of sustainability plans.
Broadening Definitions
From personal health to community development and environmental concerns to economic growth, these goals were presented and discussed in a way that expanded the definition of “sustainability” to include progress toward all aspects of healthy functioning. Participating WBC companies were encouraged to incorporate these expanded goals into their sustainability plans.
Where to Begin
With an established commitment to community and environmental projects, we decided to look at some of the alternate goals they included to consider what contribution we may make to move the needle forward.
It didn’t take long for one of them to stand out.
Perhaps Not 100 (but more than 1)
One of our staff members was immediately drawn to Zero Hunger. When she shared her personal story, we knew it was the direction we needed to go. Years ago, as a newly-single mother, she struggled to make ends meet. When her son was in junior high, she completed the application for the National School Lunch Program that offers eligible families free or reduced-price lunches…only to realize her annual income was $250 higher than the limit and she didn’t qualify.
How many other families are currently in her shoes? How could we help?
“If you cannot feed 100 people, then just feed one.” – Mother Teresa
Target Identified
We reached out to the local school districts in our multi-state locations and discovered that only one of them doesn’t currently offer free lunches to all students. Our plan is to partner with this district’s food service division using monetary contributions to cover lunches for students who don’t qualify for free lunches, but have financial barriers to affording meals.
Feeling Inspired Yet?
Try skipping breakfast before heading into work or school, then try to focus (and be nice to people). Pretend you had to skip lunch as well. If you haven’t missed a meal in a while, you may have forgotten just how overwhelming hunger can be and how it impacts your ability to function on every level.
Consider reaching out to your local schools, food pantries, or soup kitchens to see if they could use donations of money or food supplies. Or take Mother Teresa’s advice: If you can’t feed 100, then just feed one.
Even one meal for one person will make a difference toward the goal of Zero Hunger.
Still Hungry?
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