By Sutheshna Mani
We all have a lot on our plates–literally and figuratively. Our lives are in a constant flurry from class to club meeting to study group to dining hall and back. What keeps us going? Food! Food is the elixir of the body and the mind. It is what keeps us in a constant state of juggling school and extracurriculars.
Unfortunately, access to food does not come easily to all Cornellians. Food insecurity is a real problem at Cornell University. According to a 2015 PULSE survey, 22 percent of Cornell students have “skipped meals or did not have enough to eat due to financial constraints.” That’s nearly one out of every four Cornellians!
Anabel’s Grocery is trying to solve this problem. You’ve probably heard about the student-run grocery store and its mission to combat food insecurity on campus–tons of students support the project, as evidenced by the photos below–but you may not know too much about the passionate group of students that make up the Anabel’s team. All of their hard work will soon hopefully change the lives of so many Cornell students for the better. Learn about the team, and why they’re so committed to bringing Anabel’s to campus:
Photo courtesy of APO.
First of all, what’s your spirit vegetable?
Lizzi Gorman (Sophomore, Director of Marketing & Customer Relationships): Fennel: a little weird, intense flavor, but fun!
Rob Hendricks (Junior, Co-Director): Peas
Alex Leto (Senior, Director of Programming & Community Engagement): KaLe!
Josh Miller (Junior, Director of Personnel): Sweet potatoes
Jillian Solomon (Junior, Assistant Director of Operations): A peanut, so versatile
Photo Courtesy of APO
Why are you passionate about Anabel’s?
LG: My dream in life is to empower people to a)want to eat vegetables and b) able to afford them, which is what Anabel’s low-cost options and cooking programs will do! I’m passionate about Anabel’s because it will fundamentally change how people interact with food and the community in a really positive way, which IS HUGE.
RH: Personally, my passion for Anabel’s is informed by my Christian faith and the principle of loving my fellow neighbor. As someone who has experienced food insecurity in the past year, I believe strongly in the impact Anabel’s will have for the Cornell community and the relief it will provide students wondering where their next meal will come from.
AL: I am passionate about Anabel’s because I believe that students at Cornell deserve to have access to the healthy staple foods that they want so that they can have agency over their own well being.
JM: I am passionate about Anabel’s because it recognizes food access and nutrition education as an upstream determinant of health. It upholds the ideal that quality nutrition is a human right and seeks to empower strong Cornell minds through increased food security.
JS: We’re feeding our future.
Photo courtesy of APO
How is Anabel’s going to change your everyday life?
LG: Whether I’m popping in to buy affordable staples or working in the store, I’ll be spending A LOT more time in Anabel Taylor.
RH: As a student-athlete living off-campus, i struggle to meet my nutritional needs. The affordability and accessibility of Anabel’s, along with its programming opportunities, will provide me with the resources necessary to develop better budgeting and cooking habits.
AL: Anabel’s will provide me with an easily accessible place to purchase groceries and learn how to cook and shop on a budget!
JM: Anabel’s will allow me to stop subsisting on convenience foods and to start purchasing wholesome, nutritious produce.
JS: Instead of trying to attend events that serve dinner when I run out of food from the grocery store, I’ll be able to shop at Anabel’s after class.
Photo courtesy of APO
What’s one thing about Anabel’s that you wish people knew?
LG: Anabel’s is here to provide you not just food, but community, education, friends, and fun!
RH: The dozens of students working tirelessly on this project have an incredible passion for helping their fellow peers. I have never been apart of such a selfless team–one which works through adversity and innumerable obstacles to provide a much-needed resource for the student body.
AL: Anabel’s is so much more than just a place to buy food! We will be hosting budget workshops, nutrition classes, cooking lessons, panels, and cultural food demonstrations in order to teach students how to get the most out of what Anabel’s has to offer!
JM: Anabel’s is more than a grocery store: it is a place for people to gather, to share ideas, and to learn about food. It is a catalyst for great social change on campus.
JS: Anabel’s has cooking classes.
This post is sponsored by Anabel’s Grocery. Learn more about the student-run grocery store here. On Thursday November 5, the Student Assembly is voting on a resolution at 4:45 in Willard straight to approve Anabel’s funding. If you support the store, please come to show solidarity at the SA meeting!
