Hunger in Hamden Podcast
I reported, edited and produced six episodes of a series called “Hunger in Hamden.” It focuses on the ways people around Hamden, New Haven and Quinnipiac are fighting hunger and food insecurity. The shows are in the highly edit / audio narrative style that I believe best takes advantage of the medium. Episode 2: The Keefe Center and Dinner for a Dollar won an “Award of Excellence” at the Broadcast Education Association’s 2020 Festival of Media Arts and Episode 4: Food Pantries Step Up to Help During the Pandemic won an “Award of Excellence” at the Broadcast Education Association’s 2022 On-Location Creative Arts competition.
Listen to “Hunger in Hamden” below, or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcasting apps.
Episode 1: Hunger in Hamden: What is Hunger?
In this episode, we learn about the issue of hunger and food insecurity from experts, including former United Way worker and Quinnipiac graduate Daquan Stuckey, Quinnipiac professor and executive director of the Albert Schweitzer institute Sean Duffy, and United Way employee and Hamden Food Security Task Force member Jason Martinez.
Episode 2: Hunger in Hamden: The Keefe Center and Dinner for a Dollar
In this episode, we visit the Keefe Center’s innovative food pantry, which allows clients to “shop” for food like they would in a grocery store, and stop by “Dinner for a Dollar” – a weekly community meal at Grace and St. Peter’s church. We hear from Hamden officials Adam Sendroff and Y’Isiah Lopes, Keefe Center clients, Quinnipiac professor and executive director of the Albert Schweitzer institute Sean Duffy, Grace and St. Peter’s Bob Bergner and Allison Batson, along with several volunteers and dinner guests.
Episode 3: Hunger in Hamden: Three Ways Quinnipiac University is Helping
In this episode, we look at three innovative projects sponsored by Quinnipiac University faculty and staff. First, we go to the Hamden Public Library where journalism professor Amy Walker and her students have created a “story booth” to listen to community members’ thoughts about hunger. Then, we hear from sociology professor Sue Hudd, who takes fresh produce, and her students, to a food pantry each week. Finally, we hear from QU’s director of community service, Vincent Contrucci, about why he asks students to “be kind,” and leave their food behind every May. We also hear from students who took part in these projects, and the Keefe Center’s Adam Sendroff and Y’Isiah Lopes.
Episode 4: Food Pantries in the Pandemic
In this episode, we see how the pandemic forced Christ the Bread of Life Parish's food pantry to change how it operates, how Hamden Public Schools organized massive food distribution events, and how Loaves and Fishes in New Haven expanded its offerings to meet a huge increase in demand.
Episode 5: The Keefe Center's Community Garden
In this episode, we tour the brand new community food garden at Hamden's the ML Keefe Community center and see how it's encouraging people to grow their own food and stay healthy during the pandemic.
Episode 6: Netter Medical School Volunteers
In this episode, we see how a unique curriculum at Quinnipiac University's Frank H. Netter School of Medicine is sending volunteers out into the community to help fight hunger and food insecurity during the pandemic.