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Bringing awareness to growing issues
February 06, 2009
Hunger and homelessness isn’t some other place now-a-days for a lot of people, said PLU junior Breona Mendoza.
“It’s not just this distant thing,” said the Volunteer Center co-director. “It’s everywhere.”
It’s one of the reasons bringing awareness to the issues of hunger and homelessness is so important – because it affects so many people.
During Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week – all this week – those on the PLU campus will have an opportunity to learn about the issues that face almost 40 million Americans every year.
But it’s more than that, Mendoza said.
“It’s not just here’s the problem and run with it,” she said. “But here’s the problem and here’s what you can do.”
Throughout the week, people will be given different opportunities to learn, challenges to face and donations and volunteer activities to participate in.
All those interested can visit Red Square Monday, Feb. 9 and learn about the staggering facts of hunger and homelessness in the world and their own communities. They can take on the challenge on Tuesday and see what it’s like to live on $3 for a whole day (the average many people in the world live on) or they can help serve breakfast to the Tacoma hungry on Wednesday morning.
But don’t forget the problems and the opportunities to help don’t end just because awareness week wraps up, Mendoza said.
“We are hoping the outcome of these events will be to bring more awareness to it in general and provide people with the opportunity to act,” she said.
Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week Event Schedule
• Box City – Monday, February 9
Go visit Box City in Red Square and look for Sandwich boards with Hunger and Homelessness facts on people around campus.
Challenge: Talk to someone wearing a sandwich-board. You might learn something.
Flip Side: Donate canned food to the food drive going on in residence halls.
• Hunger Banquet – Tuesday, February 10
There will be a free Hunger Banquet from 5:30 to 7 p.m. right outside of the UC.
Challenge: Live off $3 for a whole day.
Flip Side: Donate time and/or money to one of the many homeless shelters and food kitchens in Tacoma and Pierce County.
• Soup Kitchen Volunteer Event – Wednesday, Feb. 11
Meet in Red Square at 7:15 a.m. and help serve breakfast to the homeless and hungry of Tacoma.
Challenge: Do not wear a coat and/or shoes.
Flip Side: Donate clothes and shoes to the box at the front desk of residence halls.
• Candle Light Vigil – Thursday, Feb. 12
There will be a Candle Light Vigil organized by students for peace at 5:15 p.m. in Red Square.
Challenge: Stay out of your place of living for 24 hours starting Thursday morning. Come join others by bringing a sleeping bag and spending the night outside in Red Square’s Box City.
Flip Side: Donate a blanket or warm socks to the clothing and goods drive.
• Chapel – Friday, Feb. 13
There will be a blessing for those who are going though difficult times and talking about the importance of service to others at Chapel starting at 10:30 a.m.
Challenge: Pick up hunger and homeless volunteer resources and sign up for River of Hunger in the Volunteer Center.
Flip Side: Attend the River of Hunger Conference on Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church and on Saturday in Lagerquist. It is fee for all students who sign up. Donations are recommended.
For more information, contact the Volunteer Center, Ramstad 116 at ext. 8318.
Campus Voice Editor Chris Albert compiled this report. Comments, questions, ideas? Please contact him at ext. 8691 or at albertct@plu.edu. Photo by University Photographer Jordan Hartman.
It’s one of the reasons bringing awareness to the issues of hunger and homelessness is so important – because it affects so many people.
During Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week – all this week – those on the PLU campus will have an opportunity to learn about the issues that face almost 40 million Americans every year.
But it’s more than that, Mendoza said.
“It’s not just here’s the problem and run with it,” she said. “But here’s the problem and here’s what you can do.”
Throughout the week, people will be given different opportunities to learn, challenges to face and donations and volunteer activities to participate in.
All those interested can visit Red Square Monday, Feb. 9 and learn about the staggering facts of hunger and homelessness in the world and their own communities. They can take on the challenge on Tuesday and see what it’s like to live on $3 for a whole day (the average many people in the world live on) or they can help serve breakfast to the Tacoma hungry on Wednesday morning.
But don’t forget the problems and the opportunities to help don’t end just because awareness week wraps up, Mendoza said.
“We are hoping the outcome of these events will be to bring more awareness to it in general and provide people with the opportunity to act,” she said.
Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week Event Schedule
• Box City – Monday, February 9
Go visit Box City in Red Square and look for Sandwich boards with Hunger and Homelessness facts on people around campus.
Challenge: Talk to someone wearing a sandwich-board. You might learn something.
Flip Side: Donate canned food to the food drive going on in residence halls.
• Hunger Banquet – Tuesday, February 10
There will be a free Hunger Banquet from 5:30 to 7 p.m. right outside of the UC.
Challenge: Live off $3 for a whole day.
Flip Side: Donate time and/or money to one of the many homeless shelters and food kitchens in Tacoma and Pierce County.
• Soup Kitchen Volunteer Event – Wednesday, Feb. 11
Meet in Red Square at 7:15 a.m. and help serve breakfast to the homeless and hungry of Tacoma.
Challenge: Do not wear a coat and/or shoes.
Flip Side: Donate clothes and shoes to the box at the front desk of residence halls.
• Candle Light Vigil – Thursday, Feb. 12
There will be a Candle Light Vigil organized by students for peace at 5:15 p.m. in Red Square.
Challenge: Stay out of your place of living for 24 hours starting Thursday morning. Come join others by bringing a sleeping bag and spending the night outside in Red Square’s Box City.
Flip Side: Donate a blanket or warm socks to the clothing and goods drive.
• Chapel – Friday, Feb. 13
There will be a blessing for those who are going though difficult times and talking about the importance of service to others at Chapel starting at 10:30 a.m.
Challenge: Pick up hunger and homeless volunteer resources and sign up for River of Hunger in the Volunteer Center.
Flip Side: Attend the River of Hunger Conference on Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church and on Saturday in Lagerquist. It is fee for all students who sign up. Donations are recommended.
For more information, contact the Volunteer Center, Ramstad 116 at ext. 8318.
Campus Voice Editor Chris Albert compiled this report. Comments, questions, ideas? Please contact him at ext. 8691 or at albertct@plu.edu. Photo by University Photographer Jordan Hartman.