Angels United D.C. Volunteer Trip

Photo courtesy of Natalie Barlow

From March 11-15, Angels United traveled to D.C. to volunteer with a variety of nonprofits to learn more about food insecurity and global policy work, according to the organization's president, Natalie Barlow, ‘25. Angels United was also able to meet with Senator Thom Tillis’ and Congresswoman Deborah Ross’ staff to discuss food insecurity in North Carolina. Cassandra Dobro, ‘28, stated that she went on the trip because of her “passion for volunteering.” Dobro said that although she has never experienced food insecurity, she knows people who have.

Barlow shared some of the non-profits they got to work with, and The Herald got to learn more about them. While this was a trip taken during spring break, it highlights an ongoing and important concern across different parts of the country, including North Carolina. According to Feeding America, 1 in 7 people in North Carolina face hunger.

D.C. Central Kitchen works to combat food insecurity through job training and creation, and provides culinary training to those with barriers for employment, according to their website. In addition, Central Kitchen shared on their website that they also conduct food deliveries of farm-to-school meals for D.C. schools and bring affordable produce to neighborhoods without access to supermarkets. Angels United helped to prepare and package fruit to be delivered to local schools and toured their location to learn more about their culinary programs. 

According to their website, MAZON is a Jewish nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger “among people of all faiths.” MAZON provides training and resources to other anti-hunger organizations and educates elected officials about the hunger needs of millions of Americans. Their website shared that the organization operates in the most food insecure states in the country and works to identify long term solutions so that the populations will be able to feed themselves.

Bread for the City works to help low-income D.C. residents “develop their power to determine the future of their own communities,” according to their mission statement. The organization shared on the same website that they provide food, clothing, medical care and legal and social services. Angels United worked at Bread for the City’s grocery store, where they helped stock food, bag potatoes and helped clients find what they needed. “This one was interesting’” Barlow said, “to see it was set up as a little grocery store and how many people they serve in such a small-time frame.”

Food and Friends, as per their website, provide medically tailored meal and grocery delivery services to clients that are isolated socially due to a serious illness. Angels United worked to pack groceries and meals. Dobro stated that volunteering at Food and Friends was “the highlight of [her] trip.”

World Central Kitchen states on their website that they are a global nonprofit that provides disaster and humanitarian relief in the form of meals. According to Barlow, they have provided meals for “refugees escaping violence, hospital staff during [COVID-19], victims Hurricane Helene and the [California] Wildfires.”

At the end of the week, Angels United met with Congresswoman Ross’ and Senator Tillis’ staff to discuss food security as well as “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), benefits of SNAP, food insecure youth, the National School Lunch Program, and the SNAP Challenge,” according to Barlow.

By Lola Mestas, Copy Editor