The week of November 12 was National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Students here at Plymouth State University worked throughout the week to raise public awareness on campus and throughout the Plymouth community about the growing national and local problem. There were several events, including a food drive and a fundraising dinner.
One organization involved in community awareness was the N.H. Food Bank, a division of N.H. Catholic Charities. N.H. Food Bank Development Assistant Angelica Mele, who is PSU alum, was at the Hartman Union Building throughout the week, sharing statistics and information about hunger in New Hampshire
“Hunger and homelessness is an issue everywhere, even in New Hampshire,” Mele said in a statement to the Laconia Citizen. “There are 95,000 people who are hungry every day. Twenty-eight thousand of these are children. Anything we can do is a huge thing.”
According to a survey of N.H. homeless shelters by the N.H. Food Bank, 55 percent of N.H. residents have incomes below the federal poverty level and 45 percent of residents have to make the decision between prescription drugs and food on the table. “It’s really sad” said Anne Matthews, a volunteer for N.H Catholic Charities, “that’s why we (NHCC) come to college campuses, to raise awareness among younger people who can help make a change.”
On Thursday, November 16 “Empty Bowls”, a dinner held at Plymouth Congregational Church by the N.H. Food Bank raised $850. Since the food bank is statewide, any money raised is helping all N.H. who are in need.
Participantes donated a minimum of $5 to obtain a meal of soup and bread and were invited to keep the soup bowls as a reminder that there are always “empty bowls” in the world.
Bowls were donated by the PSU Art Department and other local area artists. Food for the event was donated by Sodexho, The Italian Farmhouse, Hong Kong Garden and a few other Plymouth area businesses.
Also on Thursday, The concrete outside of the HUB was “home” to several students participating in “Sleep Out,” an event which is meant to show students how people without shelter brave the elements. Students spend the night outside in cardboard boxes with little bedding to simulate homelessness.
The PSU baseball team and Plymouth Hannaford’s came together to sponsor a food drive that began Nov. 5 and ended Nov. 18, collection bins were placed at the supermarket as well as in the HUB and certain areas off campus for students and local residents to drop off any non-perishable items they could spare. The drive raised more than 750 pounds of food and toiletries and all items were donated to shelters in the Plymouth Community.
“The week was very successful” said Program Coordinator of Public Relations, Betsy Cheney, “It really helped raise awareness on campus about hunger and homelessness.”