Morse scholarship winner to develop food recovery efforts in Manhattan
Thursday, May 23, 2024
MANHATTAN — The 2024 Morse Family and Community Public Policy Scholarship from K-State Libraries will help one Kansas State University student develop and execute a food recovery effort for the campus and surrounding community.
Adelaide Easter, senior in agricultural economics and global food systems leadership, Salina, is the 2024 scholarship recipient. She is focused on influencing policies that increase public access to quality food, which decreases food insecurity.
Easter plans to work with the Kansas Local Food Fellows to complete the food recovery project. Part of this work will include securing donors for the Flint Hills Food Recovery program, which recovers unused food and redistributes it through organizations such as the Flint Hills Breadbasket and Cats' Cupboard.
"The program relies on donations from local businesses, so part of my work will be working with K-State leadership to push for increased health efforts on campus and throughout the community," Easter said. "K-State has many partnerships throughout the community, so I think there are many opportunities for me to bring these groups together and find ways to increase donations."
Easter plans to lead focus groups with various organizations in Manhattan to discuss ways to reduce food waste. Another goal of hers is to plan and implement training for donors and volunteers about how they can help the Flint Hills Food Recovery program.
Easter said she believes that educating and encouraging groups to work together can have a direct, positive impact on food insecurity.
"As a student of agricultural economics, I've seen the value and power of working at the intersection of policy and development to address the root causes of hunger," Easter said. "Doing this work successfully requires being connected with the communities you're trying to impact, and I'm ready to take actions that will positively impact Kansans."
The Morse scholarship, awarded annually, provides funds to support a project or internship that gives a student the experience of working in community, state or federal governments or providing service in the nonprofit sector. The award honors Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse's lifetime commitment and activism to improve the quality of family and community life.
