Summer Check-In: Debbie McDonald ’26 Interns With Local Farm and Food Bank
McDonald, a sustainability studies major, splits her time between The Seed Farm and Second Harvest Food Bank — a local opportunity she found through Muhlenberg’s Office of Community Engagement.Thursday, August 14, 2025 03:59 AM
Debbie McDonald ’26Classes may not be in session, but Muhlenberg students are still hard at work — at internships and jobs, in the lab and in the field, producing creative works and engaging with their communities. Summer break is an opportunity for students to explore future pathways, unanswered questions, and avenues for impact. Discover what our students are up to this summer here.
Debbie McDonald ’26
Hometown: Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Major: Sustainability studies (environmental science and Spanish minors)
What is a typical day at your internship like for you?
Some days I work at The Seed Farm (Emmaus) and some days I’m at the Second Harvest Food Bank (Nazareth) so every day looks a bit different! When I’m at The Seed Farm, I assist with seed inventory, greenhouse maintenance, weeding, or visiting local gardens at pantry locations in the Lehigh Valley. At Second Harvest Food Bank, I maintain the 14 garden beds by weeding, watering, and harvesting plants. I also visit food pantries to educate and distribute food samples. In addition, I’ve created communications content for farm newsletters and for social media.
How have you been able to make an impact at your internship?
This internship has given me the opportunity to immerse myself in many Lehigh Valley communities. I’ve made connections and met many people through visiting gardens and food pantries! My experience has allowed me to have a better understanding of food insecurity and what role I can play in the Allentown community while I’m at Muhlenberg.
“My experience has allowed me to have a better understanding of food insecurity and what role I can play in the Allentown community while I’m at Muhlenberg.”
How has your time at Muhlenberg set you up for success at your internship?
Last summer, I helped maintain Muhlenberg’s Community Garden, and I was researching regenerative agriculture under [Professor of Biology and Director of Sustainability Studies] Richard Niesenbaum. Some of this was lab work, some was outside, and some was in the greenhouse. This experience, as well as a botany class, helped me to develop skills that were useful for my internship this summer.
How is this experience shaping your understanding of what you want to do in the future?
My experience this summer has shown me that I have an interest in food production and finding solutions to fight food insecurity. I’ve been able to ask my supervisors many questions about their jobs, which has allowed me to see what they enjoy most about it and learn about the obstacles in this line of work.
At Muhlenberg, McDonald is part of the Catholic Campus Ministry, the DiscipleMakers Christian Fellowship, and Plant-Based Advocates.
