Organization tries to inspire students to fight hunger

Food Not Bombs member Nathaniel Jackson said the movement took inspiration from a bumper sticker that reads “It would be a great day when schools have enough money and the air force has to hold a bake sale.”

Boston University’s Anti-War Coalition sponsored an information session about the anti-violence organization Food Not Bombs on Wednesday, garnering a crowd of 17 students.

Jackson, who lets the Boston chapter meet in his kitchen, spoke of the history of Food Not Bombs, as well as the organization’s structure, beliefs and current activities.

“We operate on the philosophy that hunger is a form of violence, as is poverty,” Jackson said.

College of Arts and Sciences junior Rachel Atcheson, who organized of the session, said the goal was to inform students about the issues surrounding food justice.

“Food Not Bombs is an organization; it’s volunteer run,” she said. “So really the reason we’re doing this tonight is to bring awareness to them [and] get people to acknowledge their presence in Boston and throughout the world.”

While Jackson was the speaker Wednesday night, and his kitchen is the group’s primary location, he said he is not the leader of the group.

“It is not hierarchical. There’s no leadership,” Jackson said. “Decisions are made based on a consensus. As a non-violent group, we like consensus.”

Food Not Bombs is not classified as a non-profit organization or recognized by the government in any way, Jackson said.

“When any Food Not Bombs chapter starts, there’s this fervor for volunteer, volunteer, and then as people get accustomed to it people die off and don’t volunteer as often,” Atcheson said. “It would be cool to have just a new influx of volunteers.”

The Food Not Bombs provides two meals a week from 3-5 p.m. On Fridays, meals are served on Park Street near Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, and Sunday meals are served at Central Square.

“You get to meet people [at the meals] you would never get to meet because of the social barriers in society,” Jackson said.

In addition to the regular meals, the group also does special meals like serving the Occupy protesters earlier this year, Jackson said.

In addition to handing out food, volunteers cook the meal beforehand, Jackson said, and volunteers hand out condoms and literature from the AIDS Awareness Center.

Most of the food the group uses is free and was going to be wasted, Jackson said. Donations come from a wide range of sources including restaurants, people’s personal leftovers, an organic farm in western Massachusetts and the annual Boston Vegetarian Food Festival.

“It’s awesome that they use food that was going to go to waste in the first place,” said Andrew Weaber, a College of Communication sophomore.

A number of students in attendance said they already volunteered with Food Not Bombs, but some said they did not know about the group.

“Food is a human right I would think, but apparently it’s not,” said Rani Gupta, a COM junior. “So I really enjoyed the presentation.”