KENNESAW, Ga. | Dec 17, 2025

Ten KSU students explore food insecurity and community support during an Alternative Fall Break trip to Tennessee

Over Thanksgiving Break, Student Volunteerism and Service (SVS) led an Alternative Fall Break trip focused on understanding food insecurity and basic needs. The trip brought together nine students, one student leader, and one SVS staff member, Myah McDonald, for a journey through Knoxville and Maryville, Tennessee.

The trip began in Knoxville with a visit to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s (UTK) Center for Basic Needs. The staff at UTK shared an overview of food insecurity amongst college students and the services available on UTK’s campus. Students actively participated in the discussions, drawing connections between UTK’s resources and KSU CARE Services, which they had learned about during pre-trip meetings.  

Throughout the week, students volunteered with multiple community organizations to get a well-rounded understanding of food insecurity and its intersections with other life challenges. At Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, a major distribution partner of Feeding America, students worked to package nonperishable items and pasta boxes. Together, they assembled more than 300 boxes of food that will support hundreds across East Tennessee. Students later volunteered at Chilhowee Baptist Center, one of Second Harvest’s partner food banks, where they packaged snack boxes and meal kits and distributed them directly to individuals and families in Blount County.  

Students also served with Harbours Gate, a nonprofit addiction and recovery center in Knoxville that provides food access and community support to individuals experiencing addiction and trauma. At Harbours Gate, students helped prepare and serve meals for more than 40 community members for their Thanksgiving celebration.  

In addition to service projects, students participated in group reflection activities designed to encourage introspection, dialogue, and personal growth. Outside of service work, students explored the local area, visiting the Sunsphere, Knoxville Museum of Art, and downtown Maryville and Knoxville.  

For student leader Casey Atkinson, the experience reinforced the importance of relationship building in service work. “Serving as a trip leader for this Alternative Fall Break was incredibly impactful,” Atkinson said. “I learned that meaningful service isn’t just about the hands-on work we do, but about the respect and relationships we build within the communities we serve.”

SVS Program Coordinator and staff learning partner for the trip, Myah McDonald, highlighted the strong sense of connection formed amongst the students on the trip. “At an institution as large as KSU, it’s special to see students connect in smaller groups on a deeper level,” McDonald said. “These trips allow students to reflect on who they are, what they value, and how they want to show up in their communities.:

Student Rumana Ghaniwala echoed those sentiments, “Service is not just about volunteering; it’s about making connections and making people feel safe to share with you,” said Ghaniwala. “I plan to bring what I learned back to KSU and share these ideas with the right people.”

The Alternative Fall Break trip with SVS offered students an opportunity to learn, serve, and reflect while building lasting relationships with one another and the communities they served. For more information on service opportunities and upcoming Alternative Breaks, check out SVS and GivePulse.