Dominican University, in partnership with Concordia University Chicago, will host an interfaith Hunger Banquet on Tuesday, October 16, in the dining hall of Dominican’s Priory Campus.
The banquet will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Modeled on a concept originated by Oxfam International, the hunger banquet is designed to raise awareness of global hunger and the ways that interfaith cooperation is addressing this complex and pervasive issue.
Participants will share an orchestrated meal designed to demonstrate global food disparity, with diners divided into three groups representing high-income, middle-income and low-income people around the world.
According to the United Nations, over 925 million people do not have enough to eat. While many of those people live in developing countries, hunger is also an issue in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that more than 9 percent of Illinois households face food insecurity.
Speakers from Catholic Relief Services and the SHEM Center for Interfaith Spirituality will expand awareness of the hunger issue and representatives from several hunger response organizations will be available to answer questions.
“This event brings students and community members together not only to raise awareness for hunger issues, but also to unite them in the fight against hunger both globally and in their own communities,” says Matt Palkert, university minister at Dominican.
Space is limited for the event. Please RSVP by October 9 to Fran Nolan at fnolan@dom.edu. For more information, contact Matt Palkert, Dominican University Ministry, (708) 524-6686 or mpalkert@dom.edu.