Photo: Jacob Silberberg/Oxfam America

At an Oxfam America Hunger Banquet, the place where you sit, and the meal that you eat, are determined by the luck of the draw—just as in real life some of us are born into relative prosperity and others into poverty.

Unless you’ve been to one of these interactive events, it’s hard to explain how memorable, emotional, and inspirational it can be, to name just a few words we’ve heard from Oxfam supporters over the years. People often get in touch to tell us how a Hunger Banquet gave them a deeper understanding of hunger and poverty, or even a whole new perspective.

While this event has been a Thanksgiving seasonal tradition for nearly 40 years, we’ve seen social media bring a fresh energy to the scene that pushes the message far beyond the walls of the room and still captures that feeling of inspiration and connection.

So far, I’m impressed by the tweets I’ve read about people’s reactions to Oxfam America Hunger Banquets this fall. Believe me, I’m in the business of writing tweets–and I know how difficult it can be to convey such a BIG feeling in 140 characters. A few that caught my eye:

Just attended OXFAM’s #HungerBanquet !Great program! Loved the information and discussion! Raise awareness of world hunger! #OXFAM #CSU

— Perdeep Badhesha(@DeepNotShallow) October 16, 2012

Oxfam Hunger Banquet #dinner #rice instagr.am/p/QlKp19nmJg/

— Fiona Ian (@localskies) October 10, 2012

@hb_planning it was an enlightening experience! I was impoverished; but that was the tastiest rice I’ve had in my life

— SLiCE CSU (@slice_csu) October 23, 2012

OxFam Hunger banquet… #eyeopening

— Jess Ratliff (@jessygirl93) September 17, 2012

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About 250 high school students participated in an Oxfam America Hunger Banquet in Iowa last fall. Photo: Sarah Peck/Oxfam America

Take a look at our event calendar right now, and you’ll notice Oxfam events coming up at schools and universities around the country. Many respond to the current drought and famine in East Africa, whether by raising funds or raising awareness about the underlying issues. “[At] a huge school like Arizona State University, it’s very common to see students who have no knowledge of the global food crisis,” said Neekta Hamidi, a junior and Oxfam CHANGE Leader. “Usually, the only students who attend events are already aware of the problems.”

Hamidi and the ASU Oxfam Club plan to spread the word with an Oxfam America Hunger Banquet—an event that’s been the heart of Oxfam’s fall campaign against hunger for nearly four decades. Guests at a Hunger Banquet are randomly assigned to one of three different income levels; each group eats a corresponding meal, from lavish to sparse. Participants can also take on the roles of different people from around world and share their experiences with others.

Because of its interactive nature, “the Hunger Banquet appeals to students with all types of interests, majors, and backgrounds … anyone who just wants to learn something new,” said Hamidi. “And it’s easy to promote via Facebook or Twitter.” She noted that last fall’s event drew even more students than they expected, and that this year they hope to surpass those numbers.

So why does an Oxfam America Hunger Banquet inspire people to take action? Tsesa Monaghan, an Oxfam CHANGE Leader from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, said the answer lies in challenging preconceptions about hunger.

 “Our minds are wired to think on individual levels, not statistics of billions or millions or even hundreds. So while you can know the numbers, they’re pretty abstract,” said Monaghan. “But when you’re in a room and see your friends and peers sitting on the floor, representing those in poverty, it makes the matter so much more personal.” 

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Here at Oxfam America we celebrated World Food Day early by hosting a potluck Sunday Dinner (or Wednesday Lunch, to be precise) at our office in Boston.  If you’re curious to learn what happens at a World Food Day Sunday Dinner—featuring recipes from chefs like Giada De Laurentiis, creative dishes from all over the world, and some very animated conversations—then check out these photos from our event. After all, we at Oxfam wouldn’t ask you to do stuff that we’re not happy to try ourselves.

Of course, Oxfam’s grassroots campaign against hunger is not really about us: It’s about you, the thousands of supporters nationwide who are hosting or attending events this fall. You are the ones who are hosting more than 200 Sunday Dinners for World Food Day, organizing Oxfam America Hunger Banquets on campus and in your communities, and coming up with your own creative ways to make a difference.

If this sounds like something you’d like to be a part of, check out our community calendar to find an event near you.  Afterward, share your event with others by posting your pictures and videos to Oxfam’s Photobook. We’ll be featuring photos and stories from your events on this blog in the coming weeks.

More photos from our Sunday Dinner:

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Sarah Peck is Oxfam’s email advocacy writer (and occasional photographer).

Not long ago I attended an Oxfam America Hunger Banquet® in Des Moines, Iowa, with over 200 people, most of them high school students from the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute. This was just one of hundreds of Hunger Banquets taking place around the country this Thanksgiving season.

To get a glimpse into what a Hunger Banquet looks like, check out some of my photos below, and hear from a few people who attended the event:

Photo: Sarah Peck / Oxfam America

“It’s one thing to talk about hunger, or to read about it. It’s another thing to actually experience it.”  – Event participant Read the rest of this entry »