Guest Blogger, Natalia Valderrama is a Sodexo intern

For the last week and a half, I have been working with Sodexo as part of their Future Leaders Internship Program. When I was assigned to work with the Sodexo Foundation, I knew their mission was to eradicate hunger. I knew this in the abstract--but last evening, during the Annual Sodexo Foundation Dinner, I got a real live perspective of the many dimensions of poverty in our country, and how much we can all do to make difference. In times where people are making the choice between filling up their gas tank or putting food on the table, it seems like an ever more daunting effort to fight poverty and hunger. Last night, it became evident that much can be done, and that Sodexo is committed to being a part of the solution.

The evening began with a moment of silence for the 35 million people in the United States who, unlike us, would not be having a fine, three-course meal. At the dinner, I learned so much about the many contributions that Sodexo employees, their families and their communities make every day. For example, I learned that during the month of April, when Sodexo holds its annual Servathon, we served 100 tons of food to 33,000 people nationally. I saw video clips of familiar faces making a difference through their service.

At the dinner, Sodexo provided scholarships to five youth who had demonstrated outstanding service to fight hunger in their communities. These award recipients ranged in age from 9 years old all the way through a junior in college, underscoring for me that you do not need to be a big company like Sodexo to make a difference--each one of us can help in our own way. In particular, I was so moved by the story of Hannah Yoxall, a nine year old child from China who received a scholarship for her tireless efforts to raise donations to food banks by kids from her school and the community. While most 9 year olds are on the couch playing the Wii, Hannah has been instilled with the drive to eliminate hunger since she was 5 years old, having been an orphan in China, with first hand experience of hunger.

It is heartbreaking to know that there is so much hunger, poverty and suffering, but it also made me feel optimistic that if people gain awareness at such a young age, there is a potential to make real change. I feel proud to be with a company with such a commitment and passion. Many companies have slogans that live only on paper.

Sodexo's is to Make Every Day a Better Day--and it is clear to me that this is the core of the company, not just a slogan.

Courtesy of Sodexo Careers Blog Making every day a better day.