Helping End Hunger in America?

[Rachel Izydorek]

I was talking to my sister’s friend the other day and in her business management course at University of Alabama they started discussing these things called Non-Profit Paneras in St. Louis, where their motto is “take what you need, pay what you can.” This really got me thinking about if these restaurants were a good idea and if it would actually work.
These Panera Bread restaurants were thought up because of the growing issue of hunger in America, so the former CEO of Panera Bread created a place where consumers ordered, but didn’t have to pay for their meals. Instead of going to a cashier to pay for your soup, you are faced with a donation box and handed a receipt that shows what your meal would usually cost. You are encouraged to donate that amount of money, but if you are unable to pay, you’re encouraged to donate your time and work in the restaurant. While not everyone will donate their time or money, I think the idea is at least interesting.
This could cut down on the hunger issue, and during these cold months, hunger and poverty can be extremely scary. I wouldn’t say that this is the perfect idea, but soup kitchens can only supply so much food to so many, and most people don’t like to donate money on the streets because they can’t guarantee where their money is being spent. With Non-Profit Paneras you know where your money is going, and countless of the less fortunate get a warm and filling meal.


What are your opinions on Non-Profit Paneras?

[Ashlyn Jensen]

Yeah, I have heard of this before the "Non-profit Panera's" that is. I think that is an amazing idea. What I wanna do when in the future, is travel around the world and bring food and medicine and supplies to people who need it. World hunger is such a major problem, that you sometimes forget about the problems where you live. Helping people who are hungry, and just giving them something to eat can mean the most to them. I think it's an awesome idea, and more things like it should be available, cause your right, soup kitchens cant do it all.

[Keely Ward]

I think this is a good idea and not only will help feed people in america but possibly be good lessons in giving back to the community. The idea that if you cant pay for your meal you can work as an option to pay for it seems like an interesting method. I would love to see this become a successful way of making a difference with the hunger in america.

[Garrett O'Reilly]

If you're in a pinch for food, why not go dive in a dumpster?

'Freegans' go dumpster diving in the dumpsters of stores that though out food after it's sell-by date. (Even if the food is perfectly good!).

This shows that the hunger crisis might not be taken seriously by those making the food.

 

Quoting Wikipedia on Freeganism.

Much food is discarded by producers for reasons to do with fussiness of retailers and consumers. Examples include huge amounts of fruit and vegetables which is smaller or larger than sizes required by supermarkets, much perfectly wholesome offal, and a species of Dover sole with all the qualities of sole but small size^[4].

[Dominika Daniel]

I think this is a good idea because as Rachel mentioned "during the cold months, hunger and poverty can be extremely scary". I think this is a great opportunity for both panera to show they care about the hunger issue at hand and for the people who need a little help to provide for their families. I just hope that people don't become selfish and take advantage of this opportunity, and I hope people really donate what they can to help make this a success.

[Summer Moghamis]

I think that's actually a really good idea, but as Whitney said, yeah people would definatly take advantage of that.

 

This reminds me of one my my best friends. She's 23 now and works for a non-profit organizition to help those in need of shelter in Texas. Same idea as the Panera deal, people can go into this heated place during winter and get small free meal if they can't afford it. In return, they would like you to donate time/money to help build more of these heated house for other homeless people. It's a good idea, but my friend says that men in suits and iPhones stay there because they were kicked out of the house. It's so unfair to the people who actually need that place to stay in freezing weather.

[whitney cummings (caleo)]

I think this is a great idea, but unfortunately there are selfish people who would probably take advantage of this program and ruin it for the people who actually need it.