National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week 2007: Nov. 11-17

from Chosen Fast

National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week is an annual, nationwide effort to bring greater awareness to the problems of hunger and homelessness, co-sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness. This year, it will be observed November 11-17.

Here are some specific and practical things that you can do to observe this week:

1.) Skip a meal. Donate the money to a community organization that fights hunger.
America’s Second Harvest will help you find a local food bank. If you live in the Greensboro area, you can donate to Second Harvest of Northwest North Carolina, or to a local food pantry (like Greensboro Urban Ministry, Salvation Army or Blessed Table) or to an organization that serves meals to the homeless.


2.) Give money to help offset the additional costs of providing emergency winter shelter.
In Greensboro, Greensboro Urban Ministry and the Salvation Army Center of Hope provide emergency overflow shelter during cold weather to homeless individuals who would otherwise be sleeping outside. Your financial donation can help pay for the additional staff and resources needed to provide winter shelter for our homeless friends on the street.

3.) Serve a meal to the homeless or volunteer at a food pantry.
If you want to understand hunger, go serve some hungry people. Volunteer at breakfast, lunch or dinner at one of the locations that serves free meals in Greensboro. Or volunteer at one of these food pantries: Greensboro Urban Ministry, Salvation Army or Blessed Table.

4.) Volunteer in a homeless shelter or do street outreach with NightWatch.
If you want to understand homelessness, go meet some homeless people. Volunteer at one of the shelters that serve homeless men, women and children in Greensboro. Or spend a Friday night doing street outreach with NightWatch.

5.) Attend Greensboro Urban Ministry’s 16th Annual Feast of Caring on Thursday, November 15th.
You’ll get a delicious meal of homemade soup and fresh bread, and with your $20 minimum pledge, you’ll also receive a pottery bowl or four honor cards. Funds raised will help GUM fight hunger and homelessness in Greensboro. Details here.

6.) Learn more hunger and homelessness and find out what you can do to help:

* Oxfam America: Working together to end poverty and injustice
* Bread for the World: Seeking justice, ending hunger
* National Coalition for the Homeless
* National Alliance to End Homelessness
* The United States Conference of Mayors Hunger and Homelessness Survey 2006 (pdf)
* Guilford County Task Force to End Homelessness (resource page)