Community of Care

When Carl Moog arrived in the US as aMaster’s degree international student at the University of Pennsylvania in 2021, he quickly became aware of the high cost of living. As an EWC Graduate Degree Fellow (scholarship recipient of the Teresita V. Ramos Fellowships and the R. Adhikarya “Niche” Award) pursuing a PhD in Educational Foundations, he is keenly aware that— particularly in Hawai‘i—accessing affordable healthy food is out of reach for many students. “Everything was so expensive, often more than twice what my country’s currency could afford,” Moog said. “I saw many fellow EWC participants facing similar food and financial stress, and I wanted to help create a community where everyone could feel supported.”

That motivation helped to initiate the EWC Food Security Task Force in 2022, a group of students and staff working together to address the challenges of rising food insecurity seen across college campuses. Included in this coordinated, student- driven effort to address food security and reduce food waste is the creation of the EWC Food Hub, a small pantry located in Hale Mānoa that provides emergency food items, along with refrigerator and freezer space for donated perishable foods.

“The goal is simple,” Moog explained. “To make sure that anyone in need can access food at any time, without barriers or stigma.”

As a Food Security Intern, Moog and other task force members helped expand the initiative through partnerships with local organizations. Working with Aloha Harvest, students collected unsold fresh produce and leftover prepared foods from the Kaka‘ako Farmers Market, while a partnership with the Hawai‘i Foodservice Alliance enabled regular distributions of near-expired bread.

Reflecting on the work, Moog emphasized the importance of collaboration. “Food security work goes beyond coordination and distribution—it’s about relationships,” he said. “Seeing EWC residents volunteer as drivers and helpers showed how community care can truly be a shared responsibility.”

Moog credits the success of the Food Security Task Force to students, staff, volunteers, and community partners working together. “This effort showed that compassion, collaboration, and consistency can build real resilience,” he said. “I hope that spirit of care continues to thrive in our EWC ‘ohana here and beyond.”