What is Hunger 101?
Hunger 101 is our gateway programming for youth. There are three
age-appropriate levels that are available for download below. This
one-hour, experiential activity walks participants through what hunger is, who is hungry in the Southern Tier, what causes hunger, and what we can do about hunger. Programming for younger children focuses on the importance of sharing and the concept of community.
These experiential, hands-on lessons are the foundation of our Hunger Education program and are a great addition to service activities, food drives or for groups that want to learn about the reality of hunger in the Southern Tier. Community members are welcome to download our Hunger 101 curriculum and also check out Hunger 101 kits from the
- the Food Bank main facility, 388 Upper Oakwood Ave, Elmira (contact our at least 24 hours prior to your workshop).
- the Southeast Steuben library, 300 Nassar Civic Plaza, Corning (can be checked out with your library card).
- the Broome County Council of Churches, 3 Otseningo St, Binghamton (contact the Hunger Education Coordinator at least 24 hours prior to your workshop).
Hunger 101 for Younger Children
Our Hunger 101 workshop with pre-K through 2nd grade students is entitled "The Importance of Sharing." This involves a reading of the classic story "Stone Soup" and a discussion about sharing.
Hunger 101 for Elementary students
Our Hunger 101 workshop for 3rd-5th graders involves the creation of a Hunger Web. Students will discuss what the terms hunger and poverty and then brainstorm some root causes. They then build a "web" that recognizes the linkages between different issues people are facing and come to understand the complexity of the issue.
Hunger 101 for Middle and High School Students
Our Hunger 101 workshop for students grades 7 and up is called "The Reality of Hunger in the Southern Tier." This workshop begins with a discussion of the terms hunger and poverty, and then moves into a simulation where students role-play members of a food-insecure community. Participants are then challenged to secure enough food for their families utilizing community resources.
How can I schedule a Hunger 101 workshop?
If you are interested in having your student group participate in a Hunger 101 workshop, please contact the Community Engagement Coordinator to discuss opportunities. Alternatively, community facilitators are encouraged to download the lesson guides below to use with their youth group and also check out Hunger 101 kits.
We are excited to have these lesson guides available for use by people across the Southern Tier and beyond. However, it is essential that we track how many youth are involved in Hunger Scholars Programming and how the curriculum guide is being used. This tracking, along with your feedback, will help us improve the guide, be more strategic in our outreach efforts and seek funding opportunities that will enable us to continue this work.
In each lesson guide, you will find a programming and documentation form. Please fill this out and return it to the Community Engagement Coordinator once you have completed your programming. Food Bank of the Southern Tier staff will be in touch with you if you complete the online form in order to download these lesson guides.
What Students Are Saying
"The experience was very informative and made me realize that you can't tell what people are going through just by looking at them from the outside. Before this workshop, I never understood how difficult it can be to feed a family." -Nursing Assistance student
"It really made me realize how stressful some people can be feeling everyday, and it'd be so hard." -High school student
"It's hard and frustrating to be in a position like this." -High school student
"It [Hunger 101] modeled life because people do really struggle to survive, and it's real, not a game." -High school student
Hunger 101 and Visiting the Food Bank
The Food Bank is proud to offer half-day service-learning opportunities at our main location in Elmira. These experiential sessions include a tour of our warehouse and facility, an age-appropriate Hunger 101 workshop, and a shift volunteering in our production room. We find that these service-learning sessions are very impactful and educational for youth. Families are also encouraged to participate.
Click here to download the Hunger 101 Lesson guides.
What Hunger 101 lessons are available for download?
The Importance of Sharing: Pre-Kindergarten-2nd grade
The Web of Hunger: 3rd grade-6th grade
The Reality of Hunger in the Southern Tier: 7th grade-12th grade
For more information contact:
Randi Lynn Quackenbush, Advocacy and Education Manager
at 607.796.6061 x4039 or email
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