Hunger + Homelessness Awareness Week (H+HAW) is an annual week of events that takes place the last full week before Thanksgiving. The purpose is to raise awareness of hunger and homelessness on a local and national level. The Greensboro and High Point Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is currently ranked first in the nation for food insecurity. Greensboro’s day center for the homeless, the Interactive Resource Center (IRC), often sees over 200 people a day. Hunger and homelessness are prevalent issues; H+HAW at UNCG will raise awareness and provide opportunities for students to get involved in the community. This year, Hunger + Homelessness Awareness Week 2015 will run from Sunday, November 15 to Saturday, November 21.
ServGSO with BackPack Beginnings — Sunday at 1 pm
Spartans kick off this week by volunteering with BackPack Beginnings (BPB), a nonprofit currently serving over 2,000 children a week through their four-tiered program of packing backpacks, food pantries, clothing pantries, and comfort backpacks. Help us help BPB by packing food and comfort packs for Guilford County children! Volunteers should wear comfortable, warm clothing. Register for this event here (at capacity). Volunteers will meet at the bus stop on Stirling Street at 1:00 pm.
Empty Bowls — Monday through Friday from 11 am to 4 pm in EUC Long Leaf Pine Room
Empty Bowls is an interdepartmental educational program that takes a stand against local hunger. The idea for Empty Bowls is simple – participants decorate ceramic bowls and purchase the bowl for a good cause. The bowls serve as a reminder that there are always “empty bowls” in the world. Empty Bowls is a week long program with a kick-off event on Monday. All proceeds from Empty Bowls benefit Spartan Open Pantry and BackPack Beginnings. More information on UNCG’s Empty Bowls project can be found here.
Soup for Hoops — Tuesday at 7 pm at Greensboro Coliseum
The UNCG Department of Athletics, Wesley-Luther, and OLSL have challenged student groups to collect as many nonperishable food items as possible in the month leading up to Hunger + Homelessness Awareness Week. All food items will go back to fellow Spartans through the Spartan Open Pantry! The winners will be recognized on-court at the men’s Basketball Spartan Showcase Game against Chowan.
Crossing the Threshold Screening — Wednesday at 7 pm in SOEB 222
Join us for a screening of Crossing the Threshold, a powerful short film that shows the important issues of homelessness for our returning veterans. After the screening, we will be joined by a panel of speakers who have experienced homelessness firsthand for a brief discussion and the Q/A section with questions from the audience.
21st Annual Will Read for Food — Thursday at 7 pm at Scuppernong Books on Elm St
Help support area food banks while celebrating local writers and their work in this event held by the MFA in Creative Writing Department. All donations will go to fight hunger and homelessness in our community.
Stop Hunger Now — Friday from 11 am to 3 pm at Student Rec Center
Race the clock with RHA, CAB, OLSL, and Congresswoman Alma Adams as we package 5,000 meals for hungry school children worldwide! Volunteers for this event will package as many meals as possible, with rotating shifts taking place all day. All meals built will be sent abroad to help international hunger needs. Learn more or sign-up for a volunteer shift here (at capacity).
ServGSO with The Pathways Center — Saturday at 10 am
Come join OLSL staff in a ServGSO with The Pathways Center, a housing program that aims to provide homeless families a safe, temporary environment to live while they are searching for other housing. At this ServGSO, UNCG volunteers will cook and serve a Thanksgiving-themed lunch for Pathways resident families. After the meal is served, volunteers will be free to work with the Pathways children, playing games or music with them. Register for this event here (at capacity). Volunteers will meet at the bus stop on Stirling Street at 10 am.
Reposted from OLSL