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Governor Deval Patrick Attends ‘Got Food’ Hunger Forum

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick attended a Got Food? forum at Worcester State College Tuesday, November 18. The event, hosted by the Urban Studies Department [1] and the Intergenerational Urban Institute, served as the launch for Commonwealth Corps, a grant funded initiative of twelve members ages 18-85 who will work over this year on a variety of projects to help end hunger in our community, including food stamp outreach to elders, volunteer development for Brigham Hill Community Farm, development of hunger curriculum for urban schools, and a hunger website. Commonwealth Corps is a new initiative of Governor Patrick to involve people of all ages in service. Worcester State College is honored to be among the first recipients of this grant.

“Thank you all for bringing such a strong sense of service to this community,” said Governor Patrick to the more than 150 attendees. “I am confident that the spirit of service is what will lift us up.”

Commonwealth Corps Board Co-Chair David Roach praised participants. “Because of your creative leadership here in Worcester, you are two to three years ahead of the rest of the Commonwealth,” he said. “What you are doing here now, we envisioned communities developing three years in the future.”

Featured panelists included Christa Drew, Director of the Hunger Free and Healthy Initiative in Worcester, Jean McMurray, Executive Director of the Worcester County Food Bank, Katherine Shocas, Director of Special Projects at UMass Memorial, and Ken Crater, Brigham Hill Community Farm.

The panel was followed by IUI’s  [2]empty bowl event with soup donated by Chartwells and bread donated by Panera. Bowls of soup were sold ($5.00 for students, $10.00 for faculty and staff) and a raffle featuring sports tickets, gift certificates to local restaurants, and iPods and more was held. Over $950 was raised and will benefit  Worcester County Food Bank, Brigham Hill Community Farm, Worcester Food Policy Council and the South Worcester Neighborhood Center.