by Payton Bell

During the week of November 17, the Civic Leadership Program (CLP) led the National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week initiative at our campus. CLP raised awareness for people who are food insecure and homeless by hosting a series of three events to get people involved in taking action against these issues. The three events were 24-Hour Famine, Night Out and Pack-a-Meal. If you participated in any of these events, you joined this powerful movement of ending hunger and homelessness in our communities. 

The first event, 24-Hour Famine started on November 18 with participants going a full 24-hours without food or anything they find valuable. The goal of this event was to build empathy for food-insecure individuals in hopes that you will join hunger relief efforts! The Collegian asked Civic Engagement Ambassador for CLP Shaniah Taylor her opinion on the event. Her response was, “The event turnout was great and showed that people at GC want to make a change. I hope more people will help out in events; not just for homelessness but for other causes they care about in the future.”

The second event for the week was Night Out. On November 20, participants stayed on Back Campus for two hours and went through a series of activities and scenarios to simulate homelessness and learn more about it. The Collegian asked junior Collin Henry how the Night Out event impacted him and what he gained from it. He said, “It was educational. The trivia activity allowed us to learn more about the homelessness and some resources that are available for the homeless, such as 211 being the hotline for homeless individuals. I would also add that I am not a typical student as I currently serve in the marines, so hearing about the veteran population really hit home. This is one of those topics that people think would not happen to them until it does.”

For the final event, the Civic Leadership Program collaborated with the Pride Pantry and created 40 Thanksgiving meals filled with food products and toiletries. Each and every meal was donated to the Interactive Resource Center in Greensboro. The concluding event for National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week gave students a chance to be involved in relief efforts and celebrate what they are thankful for. Many students and faculty were able to join for this final event. Each Pack-A-Meal box had a positive quote on the box along with cute illustrations and handmade letters written by students for the people receiving these meals to read. The Collegian asked Civic Engagement Ambassador Fellow Xypher Pino how the Pack-A-Meal event impacted his understanding of hunger and homelessness. He said, “Seeing everyone attend the Pack-A-Meal and genuinely enjoy being at the event was such a pleasure experience to be a part of. It made me realize that through strength in numbers, we can really help out an end to both hunger and homelessness in our society.”

National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is an annual program where people come together across the country to draw attention to the problems of hunger and homelessness. Participating groups spend the week holding a series of educational, service, fundraising and advocacy events.  

In the United States, 37.2 million Americans live below the poverty level and 795 million people do not have enough to eat. According to H&Hweek.org “As a society, we have the resources and knowledge to end hunger and homelessness – we just need the collective will to make the ideas a reality.”  

According to the North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness, North Carolina is ranked 18^th worst in the nation when it comes to homelessness, and in a classroom of 20 students, at least one of those students in every three classrooms is homeless.

Hunger and homelessness remain a critical issue that demands our immediate attention and action. Despite the efforts of numerous organizations and individuals, millions of people continue to suffer from a lack of basic necessities. It is imperative that we, as a society, work together to create sustainable solutions that address the root causes of these problems. We must advocate for policies that provide affordable housing, increase access to nutritious food and support comprehensive social services. By nurturing a sense of community and compassion, we can help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to live a dignified and secure life.

Let us be reminded that change begins with each of us. Whether through volunteering, donating or simply raising awareness, every action counts! Together, we can make a difference and move closer to a world where no one has to face the hardships of hunger and homelessness anymore.