Paige Hornyak

For the remainder of the semester, I plan to complete over 16 additional hours as part of my Falcon Food Pantry journey. Throughout this experience, I have developed valuable professional and personal skills while contributing to a campus resource that helps address food insecurity and supports the well-being of BGSU students. My involvement has allowed me to see firsthand how teamwork, creativity, communication, and community engagement can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

One of my primary responsibilities has been creating and managing social media content to increase awareness of the Falcon Food Pantry, educate students about its resources, and foster a welcoming and inclusive environment. I have created a wide variety of posts and videos, including day-in-the-life videos, humorous and interactive videos featuring interns, intern interviews, pantry updates, announcements, and other engaging content. When brainstorming ideas, I consider how to make the pantry more approachable, relatable, and visible to students who may not be familiar with its services. By using creative and engaging content, I hope to reduce the stigma surrounding food insecurity and help students feel comfortable accessing resources when they need support. This work has strengthened my creativity, critical thinking, communication, and social media marketing skills while teaching me how to develop content with a specific audience and purpose in mind.

In addition to my social media responsibilities, I work full shifts on Wednesdays, which are also delivery days for the pantry. During these shifts, I help unload deliveries, organize and stock food and other supplies, and work collaboratively with my team to keep the pantry clean, organized, and accessible. I also assist students in finding the items they need, helping create a positive experience for individuals who visit the pantry. These responsibilities have strengthened my teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving, and time-management skills. Balancing physical pantry responsibilities with my social media work and academic commitments has taught me how to prioritize tasks, remain productive in a busy environment, and communicate effectively with others to ensure that daily operations run smoothly.

Food safety is another important part of my role. I help ensure that proper safety procedures are followed by checking expiration dates, examining the appearance and condition of food items, and practicing appropriate food-handling procedures. These tasks have reinforced the importance of attention to detail, responsibility, and maintaining high standards when serving a community. I understand that even seemingly small tasks can have a significant impact on the quality and safety of the services provided to students. This responsibility has helped me become more conscientious and aware of the importance of following established procedures in a professional setting.

I have also contributed to creating a welcoming atmosphere within the pantry by helping decorate the space for Halloween and participating in other efforts to make it inviting for students. These activities have allowed me to use my creativity beyond social media while recognizing that the physical environment can influence how people feel when accessing support. I want students to feel respected, comfortable, and welcomed rather than judged for needing assistance. Through these experiences, I have gained a greater appreciation for how small details and thoughtful interactions can contribute to a supportive campus community.

Another meaningful aspect of my experience has been networking with BGSU alumni who follow the Falcon Food Pantry on social media. Connecting with individuals who continue to engage with the university and its community has helped me recognize the importance of building professional relationships, representing an organization positively, and communicating its mission to a broader audience. These interactions have encouraged me to become more confident in my ability to connect with others, share the purpose of my work, and recognize the value of community partnerships in sustaining important campus resources.

Overall, my Falcon Food Pantry journey has helped me grow both personally and professionally. I have strengthened my communication, creativity, brainstorming, networking, teamwork, time-management, and problem-solving skills while gaining practical experience in social media management, community engagement, food safety, and daily pantry operations. Most importantly, this experience has deepened my understanding of food insecurity and the importance of making resources accessible, welcoming, and free from judgment. It has shown me that addressing a community need involves more than simply providing supplies; it also requires compassion, awareness, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to helping others.

As a Social Work major, I find this experience especially meaningful because it allows me to apply values that are central to the profession, including service, dignity and worth of the individual, social justice, and the importance of human relationships. I have learned that advocacy can take many forms, from helping someone locate the food they need to creating social media content that increases awareness and encourages students to seek support. Moving forward, I hope to continue using the skills I have developed to contribute to my campus community, advocate for individuals experiencing barriers to essential resources, and become a more confident, compassionate, and well-rounded professional. I am proud of the contributions I have made so far and look forward to completing more than 16 additional hours before the semester concludes.