Homelessness and Hunger Awareness 2018
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is November 11th thru November 19th This week is a nationwide undertaking of the National Coalition for the Homeless to promote education, action and awareness of hunger and homelessness.
This awareness week is held each year the week before Thanksgiving. That week is usually a time for all of us to reflect on our lives, finding gratitude and peace in where and who we are. Realization is that there are many families and individuals who do not have this peace; they are struggling from hunger and homelessness. This is an epidemic that sadly affects every community across America.
No one should have to worry about whether they will have food on their plate or a roof over their head. Unfortunately this is a widespread problem. It is shocking, disturbing and painful to see the hard facts for the United States regarding Hunger and Homelessness .
- 643,067 Americans are homeless on a typical night
- 1 in 6 Americans face hunger
- More than 1 in 5 children face hunger
- More than 13 million American children rely on food banks for assistance
- 40% of food is thrown out in the United States every year. All of this uneaten food could feed 25 million Americans
- 12% of the homeless population are veterans
- 25% of the homeless suffer from a mental illness
- 238,110 homeless are families
Reality is that homelessness and food insecurity reside in every county in America. The state of Illinois produces numbers of: 1,658,280 residents face food insecurity and 13,107 are homeless on any given night.(http://www.moveforhunger.org/hunger-and-homelessness/)
As a country, we have the resources and knowledge to eliminate hunger and homelessness in our time, but it remains to be seen if we have the political will to do so.
Every American can make a difference.
Morrison Tech will be recognizing National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week by holding a food drive November 11th - November 19th. A drop off location has been set up in the Admissions Office located in the main Rambo building on campus . After hours you may drop off non perishable food items in the main entrance of the Rambo building. If you have any questions please call the Admissions Office at (815)772-7218 x206.
The students and staff will also hold a “one night without a home” event the evening of Sunday, November 18th thru Monday morning. Students and staff will choose to spend the night outdoors, in boxes, tents and cars. Putting oneself in others shoes is the key to empathy, care and action.