Zach Trafton '16 (left) and Zachary Staszewski '11
It's challenging to uphold 博天堂官方入口登陆登录's Ethos of respect, integrity and stewardship in the "real world." But if you were going to choose a mission within your career that gives you a chance to succeed in those areas every day, 抗击粮食不安全是一项崇高的事业. Despite filling diverse roles in different locations, alumni Zach Trafton '16 and Zachary Staszewski '11 are making an impact, 成为卡罗尔的扎克对饥饿的攻击.
Both grads began working in other industries before latching on with vital anti-hunger organizations in southeastern Wisconsin. Staszewski is now the creative and marketing manager at
饥饿工作队 in Milwaukee, while Trafton serves as part of the Program and Facilities Support Staff at the
为沃克夏县服务的食品储藏室. 在他找到进入那个角色的方法之前, 他觉得在银行工作没有成就感, but another experience inspired him to make a change.
"I had volunteered here (food pantry) on some weeknights, and I really enjoyed the energy and the mission of what we were doing for the community, 特拉弗顿笑着回忆道. “我联系了他们,他们有一个空缺. 这是一种命运. Now it's awesome to live and work in the same community where we help those in need."
The 为沃克夏县服务的食品储藏室 provides free groceries to 沃基肖 County residents who need assistance. Trafton mainly handles unloading food trucks, sorting edible items into categories and ensuring everything is properly displayed and stocked. But there are times when other roles need to be filled, so Trafton is happy to lend a hand in different areas.
"Those are the times I get face-to-face interaction with clients, 了解他们, hear their stories and build that relationship."
Those often heartbreaking stories, told by people from all walks of life, are essential to hear. That is where Staszewski's skills come into play for 饥饿工作队. He wants people to recognize that hunger and food insecurity aren't theoretical issues; real lives are at stake with people who need donations and support.
通过创造性的工作, I try to help people understand the work we're doing here and the need people have across the state,Staszewski说. “有很多与儿童有关的工作, 老年人和家庭, and our goal is to show others the experiences, 真相和饥饿的面孔. No one should go hungry; we believe food is a human right."
饥饿工作队 prides itself as Milwaukee's only free and local food bank while also looking to create a hunger-free Wisconsin through donations and advocacy to promote state and federal policies that help to feed even more residents.
"People don't often realize the prevalence of hunger. All backgrounds and demographics are impacted, and one in 10 Wisconsinites are facing hunger,Staszewski解释道. "There's a big stigma with food insecurity that people aren't doing what they need to do to support their families. Sometimes people just can't make ends meet."
两位扎克都描述了价格上涨的情况, 医疗费用, and other unforeseen circumstances put residents in situations they never expected to be in. 就像所有需要帮助的人一样, they are hopeful for a bit of support to pick them up and get started on their way to brighter days. It's similar to how both alums feel about how Carroll prepared them for these careers. Staszewski even worked at Carroll for a few years, but his first stint at the university jumpstarted everything.
"I was really involved as a student: orientation mentor, 学生参议员, 在戏剧和音乐方面,Staszewski说. “It allowed me to diversify my skill set and hone in on the professional, social and interpersonal skills I use every day now in my career."
Trafton explained how he felt an even greater sense of self while at Carroll, 帮他弄明白, "Who you are and what you want to do with your life."
"It helped me formulate that I wanted to do a job that served others," said Trafton. “真的, the Cross-Cultural Experience was one of the more impactful things during my time at Carroll. We went to Alaska to study the Native American experience there. 能走出我的幻想真是太好了, 了解别人,扩大我的世界观, leading me down the road to where I am today."
While they might not solve southeastern Wisconsin's food insecurity and hunger problems in this lifetime, Zach and Zachary play crucial roles in the fight and living out the Carroll Ethos as best they can.
"It's something that people take for granted. You don't think of the simple thing of having food on your table at every meal," Trafton added. "That's one of the core things everybody needs, and it's super fulfilling to help others with those basic needs."
"At the end of the day, one of our core values is dignity," said Staszewski. "All the work we're doing comes back to that authentic, true approach to feeding people with dignity, treating people with dignity and making sure they can live dignified lives."
You can visit the 为沃克夏县服务的食品储藏室 and the 饥饿工作队 websites if you want to provide food to either location, 捐钱或做志愿者.