Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is an annual event held from November 11-17 where people from across the country come together to raise awareness and volunteer to support the hungry and homeless. This event started at Villanova University in 1975 and is a week for people to raise awareness, volunteer, be educated, and to learn how to advocate for the hungry and homeless.
Megan Camp, who is the director of service learning and community engagement at Neumann University, explained how Neumann participates in the event and what Neumann does to support the hungry and homeless.
During the week Neumann held several events, starting on Sunday, November 12, with a Mass intention for the hungry and homeless in the Sacred Heart Chapel.
A documentary titled “Homeless but Human” was shown in the Mullen Multipurpose Hall.
“Those who attended the event were really touched, Camp said. “These people go out and become friends and visit with homeless people to make them feel welcome, and to be there for them, and we could see that these actions really helped the homeless.”
The Franciscan Justice Circle held a campus ministry, and the sleep out for hunger was held on the Mirenda Center lawn. The sleep out for hunger is an event where students and faculty sleep outside to stand in solidarity with the homeless.
According to Guilherme Lopes, director of campus ministry, “The sleep out is not about pretending to be homeless. We sleep out to show our solidarity with those who are - and to let the world know about the ever-growing population of young people who face homelessness.”
Students were able to volunteer at the St. Francis Inn, a soup kitchen in Kensington that Neumann students regularly volunteer at and get the opportunity to serve the homeless.
“I love going to the St. Francis Inn,” said Camp. “You serve the hungry and meet all types of people.”
A meal packing event partnered with Kids Against Hunger United was held in the Bruder Gym. During this event 13,000 meals were made, and Camp said that this is her favorite event that Neumann held.
“This is a growing, fun, and easy event that students can participate in and start serving,” she said.
To wrap up the week a pop-up event was held in Bachmann where the meals packed on Thursday could be sampled by students and faculty.
These events were an avenue for students to learn how to serve those in need and learn how to spread awareness about the hungry and homeless.
“Service is just something I’ve always done,” said Camp. “To me giving back is something that has always been important in my life. It's a win-win situation, the people you help always feel better, and I always do too. And is a way of giving thanks for all the good things in our lives.”