Nutrition and Food Insecurity Rural Immersion

October 13–14, 2023 · Normantown, Sutton and Gassaway, West Virginia

Download original PDF: 2023 Nutrition and Food Insecurity Rural Immersion agenda; opens in a new tab

Preparation Activities

Participants completed each of the following in their own time before October 13.

What you do with your fork impacts everything, a TED talk by Mark Hyman (video, YouTube)
Spent, an online exercise about living on a low income
Mountaineer Food Bank most-needed items list (Google Drive)
WVU Extension home food preservation guidance
Mountaineer Food Bank mobile pantry frequently asked questions

Optional Viewing

Fed Up (documentary, YouTube)

Day one — Friday, October 13

Day one schedule
Time	Activity	Location
9:00 a.m.	Tour of the community center	Normantown Historical Community Center, 10223 US Hwy 33 W, Normantown WV 25267
10:00 a.m.	Food preservation education, followed by hands-on canning	NHCC cafeteria, Normantown
12:00 p.m.	Lunch (provided)	NHCC cafeteria, Normantown
1:00 p.m.	Break and travel to Sutton	Elk River Hotel & Café, 616 Main St, Sutton WV 26601
2:00 p.m.	Kayaking on the Elk River, with an alternate activity in poor weather	Elk River Hotel & Café
5:30 p.m.	Hotel check-in	Elk River Hotel & Café
6:30 p.m.	Dinner in the Dome	Elk River Hotel & Café
7:30 p.m.	Cooking on a budget activity	Elk River Hotel & Café

Day two — Saturday, October 14

Day two schedule
Time	Activity	Location
8:00 a.m.	Breakfast	Elk River Hotel & Café
9:00 a.m.	Mountaineer Food Bank tour	484 Enterprise Drive, Gassaway WV 26624
10:00 a.m.	Mountaineer Food Bank Volunteer Saturday	Sutton branch
12:30 p.m.	Lunch	Braxton Bistro, 226 Main Street, Sutton, WV 26601
1:00 p.m.	Debrief, evaluation, and wrap-up	Braxton Bistro, 226 Main Street, Sutton, WV 26601
2:00 p.m.	Visit the Flatwoods Monster Museum	Main Street, Sutton, WV

From the immersion

Rural Immersion participants standing with kayaks on the rocky bank of the Elk River, fall hillsides rising behind them. — Kayaking on the Elk River at Sutton.

Two participants packing a Mountaineer Food Bank carton during a volunteer shift. — Volunteer Saturday at the Mountaineer Food Bank.

Rural Immersion participants posed on the steps beside the Flatwoods Monster statue in Braxton County. — The cohort at the Flatwoods Monster statue in Braxton County.