Women Who Inspire - Part 2
By Samantha Trajcevski, Social Media Manager, HHI
To continue the series on Women Who Inspire, our Social Media Assistant, Samantha Trajcevski, will talk about Access to Excess founder Jen Burns:
As an undergraduate student studying Sustainability, I have the privilege of taking a diverse set of classes. One such course discussed food insecurity, how it has historically impacted the Dayton area, and how food insecurity manifested itself in current turmoil. We received a guest lecture from Access to Excess founder Jen Burns, who discussed her creative solution to attacking the roots of food insecurity and food waste. In short, Jen collects unsold food from local farmers and grocery stores and offers collected items for free. She holds produce stands or soup stands throughout the Greater Dayton Area. In other words, Jen travels to you, bridging the gap between access to excess food items. Her partnerships with local organizations help Jen reflect a vision of food security for all.
I got the opportunity to volunteer at a soup and produce stand last spring. It was a great event to be a part of because I saw how excited passerbys felt when they learned that everything at the stand was free. This meant a lot to those who may struggle obtaining food items at rising costs.
I chose Jen for this article not only to applaud her genius efforts, but because when you have the privilege of meeting her, you see how genuine her passion is for offering people food in a shame-free and accessible way. When Jen presented to my class, you could not deny her grit and commitment to bringing food to those who need it. She inspires me as a food sovereignty champion because she develops solutions by addressing the root of the problem. Jen also proves that it takes a village; the support of volunteers, community partners, and Jen’s devotion to Access to Excess proves that it takes a village.
My own words cannot do Jen Burns justice, so please visit her website, watch her TedTalk, or learn how you can get involved with Access to Excess.
