We are the Oasis in the Middle of the Desert by Genesis Rivera

In my capacity as a fellow for the Center for “Race”, Culture and Social Justice, I am obligated to attend meetings, conduct research, and promote events that explore the impact of diversity on campus and in the greater community. Often, however, we can lose sight of the bigger picture: students and professors alike are capable of losing sight of why diversity and inclusion advocacy is important and necessary. Therefore, I often take it upon myself to engage with our local community and stay grounded in my convictions.

 Every Sunday, dozens of people who struggle to feed their families with the meager selection of food they can find locally lined up to receive rotting fruits and vegetables, day old bread, and dairy products on the verge of expiration. They desperately grab for the nutrients they need, no matter the condition of the food, they need to grab as much as they can so they have proper meals for one more week. The unfortunate arguments and mobs that result are kept under control, so that people can efficiently and safely collect subpar items with enormous smiles on their faces… And all of this takes place down the street, at the Hempstead train station. Has your mother ever told you, “Finish your food, there are children starving in Africa”? Well, as much as we attempt to ignore it, they are suffering here too.

Many of us never have to confront the reality that some people around us are malnourished because of the privileges Hofstra allows us. You may not like the Student Center Cafeteria food, but you will always find fruits, vegetables, and other necessary ingredients to eat your meals. The shopping shuttle may always arrive 5 minutes late, but it is a convenient ride to Stop & Shop, Target, Trader Joe’s, and Fairway, should you choose to cook for yourself. And yet, there are still several students on campus that cannot provide for themselves and use the food pantry on campus. This food pantry, implemented with good intentions, is often inconvenient and poorly stocked for the students who rely on it.

The town of Hempstead is what is called a food desert. A food desert is an urban area in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food. Hofstra University exists in a bubble. We are an oasis in the middle of the desert. Once a week, an organization named Community Solidarity arranges stands across the street from the Hempstead train station to hand out food to people who will wait in line all day to receive apples, peppers, and a gallon of milk. The dozens of people that wait in these lines are grateful for whatever they can get, and more than willing to speak to the “angels” who bless them every Sunday. While we may not be able to aid them financially or lower the prices at the local supermarket chains, we could provide them with transportation to a local grocery store, or take a quick shuttle ride on a Sunday afternoon and hand them their groceries with a smile on our faces, knowing that we are not just attending school on Long Island, but bettering the community while we are here.