Local event advocates for world hunger relief

World Hunger Relief volunteer Lauren de Silva returns an escaped goat to its pen at World Hunger Relief’s Farm Day on Saturday. Baylee VerSteeg | Multimedia Journalist

By Micaela Freeman | Staff Writer

World Hunger Relief, Inc., more commonly known as The Farm, and the Waco community hosted its 8th annual Farm Day on Saturday.

The free event helped people learn about Waco’s local produce using informational sessions, games, live music and a petting zoo. It also had a farm-fresh taco lunch for an additional cost. The event gave Waco citizens tips on how to localize their groceries and waste.

Joel H. Scott, World Hunger Relief, Inc.’s director of advancement and outreach, said Farm Day is a chance to meet new people and showcase their mission.

“It brings out all of our supporters, friends of The Farm and alum(ni),” Scott said. “It’s an opportunity to connect people through our organization and to understand what we are doing as an operational farm, but also to see what we are doing to combat hunger through our efforts and empowerment.”

Scott said he works to partner with larger organizations throughout Texas and the nation.

“I’m connecting with people locally, statewide, and nationally to bring attention to The Farm, and if they believe in our mission, they’d eventually support us,” Scott said.

Scott said he was looking forward to bringing awareness to world hunger in Waco at Farm Day.

“We are in Waco,” Scott said. “We want you to know what we are doing for the world, and we want you to join us.”

Scott also said he is grateful for all that Baylor does for World Hunger Relief, Inc.

Baylor and Beyond is a philanthropic living and learning community in North Russell that partners with World Hunger Relief, Inc.

Scott said The Farm is grateful for its relationship with Baylor and Baylor and Beyond.

“We just want Waco and Baylor to work with us,” Scott said. “We have a lot of great relationships with Baylor. We are grateful.”

Waco senior Sarah Davis said she wanted to take advantage of Farm Day.

“I think it’s a good opportunity to show how daily actions we take and how changing how we grow our food and how we make trash and how we interact with the world affect things on a global scale,” Davis said. “Here they can learn techniques that they can take to other countries and really affect large scale change.”