Summer Opportunities students in Ric Ballin’s photography classes are learning how to truly see the world – both with and without their cameras. In addition to becoming skilled at taking pictures, students are hoping to bring a new perspective to their fellow Summer Opportunities students about the need to keep the local food pantry stocked during the summer.
“The food pantry has little problem receiving food donations during holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, but during the summer months, donations drop off even though the need is still there,” Ballin said.
With Ballin’s leadership, photography students in his Summer Opportunities photography classes are organizing a food drive July 7-13 to benefit the Sussex Food Pantry. Students have been asked to contribute nonperishable food items so that people within the community will not go hungry during the summer.
As Ballin helps students capture the beauty within the community, his goal is to help them become aware of its needs.
“The consequence of being observant is to ultimately care about what you see,” he said, quoting the master photographer Dorthea Lang. According to Ballin, she also said, “The camera is an instrument to help us see without the camera.”