Students Lead Rise Against Hunger Event

Rise Against Hunger: An Interview with Martha Wyse and Adam Rhodes

In a spirited conversation, Abigail Cook (AC) sat down with Martha Wyse ’26 and Adam Rhodes ’25, key organizers along with Lucas Poe ’25 behind the successful Rise Against Hunger event this spring. They shared the essence and impact of their recent initiative, which brought together the EMS community to combat food insecurity and raise awareness.

AC: Martha, you’ve mentioned that the event is both fulfilling and fun. Can you elaborate on what makes it such a unique experience?

Martha Wyse: Absolutely! It’s really fulfilling because it’s like being part of a joyful assembly line. Each of us does our part, and it feels like a community-building activity. It’s also cool because it spans multiple generations, creating a fun collaborative experience. Faculty bring their kids too.

AC:  Adam, can you share your perspective on the interactions during the event?

Adam: There are so many cool interactions that you wouldn’t normally have. Everyone does their separate tasks, but there’s this big goal we all reach together as a group. It’s an incredible feeling to see everything come together.

AC: This year, churches played a  role in the event, too. Can you tell us about that?

Martha Wyse: Yes, this year, churches donated money to support us. Next year, we aim to have them physically participate in the Rise Against Hunger event. It’s about making a more direct impact by being hands-on in the process.

AC: You managed to package 20,000 meals this year. How did you achieve that?

Adam: It was a ton of work, but everyone was assigned a role in the assembly line, and we all jumped in actively. It didn’t feel like work because the time just flew by. OUr Rise Against Hunger representative has experience in energizing the team and explaining everything, so it helped keep the momentum going. We faced challenges, like fewer people in the first shift, but the second shift brought a surge of energy and more people, and we managed to hit our goal!

AC: What’s the atmosphere like during these shifts?

Martha Wyse: We don’t let people pick their groups, so they learn to work with whoever they’re with. It creates a fun, playful competition between tables, a dynamic you wouldn’t normally see. Everyone was having a blast, and it really brought people together.

AC: Looking ahead, what are your hopes for next year’s event?

Adam: We want to keep the energy alive and get even more people involved in the planning process. It’s about making the event more sustainable for future years and giving more people the experience of planning and responsibility. It’s exciting to think about how much more we can accomplish together.

AC: Thank you, Martha and Adam, for sharing your experience and teaching us about Rise Against Hunger and broadening our collective service opportunities. We’re looking forward to seeing the continued success of Rise Against Hunger at EMS!