This article is part two in The Fem Word’s series on homelessness. Part one can be found here.
Each Thanksgiving morning, I wake up to scrumptious smells from my mother’s kitchen. In just a few short hours, our family will gather and feast on one of 46 million holiday turkeys eaten by Americans each year. Sadly, not everyone enjoys such a festive setting on Thanksgiving Day.
November 10-18, 2018, is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, the purpose of which is to encourage people across the nation to volunteer, donate, and educate to help those who are suffering. Volunteers and advocates across America join together during this time to call attention to the numerous issues impoverished individuals and families face each day. Participants from over 700 communities, churches, high schools, and universities become leaders as they organize local events and empower their neighbors to become part of a movement
A food and clothing drive is the main event of the week. Each participating community will host an event in their city to serve the immediate needs of the people within their area. At the conclusion of the week, donations are added together to reveal the collective impact made across the country.
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is also an opportunity to shed light on advocacy issues. The focus this year is on the criminalization of homelessness. 240 cities in 12 states have passed laws that prosecute homeless individuals for simply trying to survive. Sleeping on the street or in vehicles, camping in public, and panhandling have been made illegal throughout parts of the country. There is even a law that prohibits anyone from feeding the homeless in public places.
During this week and beyond, advocates speak out against laws that dehumanize and further marginalize the homeless and hungry.
Hunger Pains
41 million people are at risk of hunger each year in America. That’s one in eight including 13 million children and seven million seniors. One in five children live in poverty in the United States, and 553,742 people are homeless on any given night.
Children who do not get enough to eat face serious disadvantages. While nourished children are ready to focus, learn, and grow, hungry kids struggle in school and are more likely to repeat a grade. They may have developmental impairments and behavioral issues.
When it comes to hunger, senior citizens are also vulnerable. Many seniors find themselves having to choose between medical care and food. Going without either of these necessary resources can result in chronic diseases and shorter life spans. At the current rate, there will be 8 million food-insecure seniors in America by 2050.
Feeding America is the nation’s largest and oldest hunger relief organization. Founder Jon van Hengel developed the concept of food banking, and the organization had such great success in meeting the needs of their community that the model quickly spread across the country. Today, Feeding America has a network of 200 food banks across the nation and serves one in seven Americans. You can learn more about Feeding America and find your local food bank here!
The issues of hunger and poverty extend across the world. 795 million people do not have enough to eat, and six children die each minute of hunger-related diseases.
The Hunger Project is a global organization committed to permanently ending of world hunger. The non-profit is lead by President and CEO Suzanne Mayo Frindt. As an investor and partner of The Hunger Project for over 25 years, Frindt brings compassion and commitment to the organization.
One of the The Hunger Project’s main pillars is to empower women as key change agents to uplift their communities. The Hunger Project equips women with tools to increase their incomes, become active in local government, and fight gender inequality. The organization also educates communities on sustainable farming, food bank management, and methods to increase self-reliance.
A Badass Making A Difference
When she was a college freshman, badass photographer and activist Ayesha Khwaja began to serve home cooked meals to homeless individuals in her Washington, D.C., neighborhood. Little did she know this simple act of kindness would grow into a movement.
Today, Ayesha spends her Sundays feeding 100 people experiencing homelessness in the nation's capital. Ayesha has found a family in those she serves and provides a vital, uplifting lifeline year round.
I was fortunate enough to see Ayesha’s work firsthand at a church shelter in Washington D.C. Many would imagine a homeless shelter to be a sad or lonely scene. Those are the last words I would use to describe the mood as I entered the common area of the shelter.
The space was filled with talk and laughter. People played card games and chit-chatted with friends before lunch. Like clockwork, volunteers appeared carrying trays of food. Before I knew it, I was helping them serve lunch. The unexpected, uplifting mood within the shelter reminded me that food does not just nourish us physically. Food helps us feel we are part of a family and community.
Through her years of dedicated, tireless work, Ayesha has created a sense of belonging for those she serves. It's a feeling money can’t buy and one that I would imagine is rare for someone without a home. Work like Ayesha’s can create friendships between people from all backgrounds and situations and shows us the happiness we can find when we look beyond ourselves. With their strong convictions, badass women like Ayesha can transform their communities while fighting hunger and homelessness.
What Can You Do?
1. Become an activist! There are plenty of opportunities to fight hunger and homelessness in your community. You can participate by volunteering your time; donating money, food, and toiletries; and advocating for the expansion of food programs.
2. Volunteer at your local food bank! There is a job for everyone, from sorting incoming food donations to assisting with community education and outreach. Although we are most reminded to volunteer during the holiday season, it is important to remember that hunger and homelessness are year-round issues. Volunteers are especially valuable in the summer months. Consider giving your time on Memorial Day, the 4th of July, or Labor Day, as summer holidays can be difficult times for volunteer recruitment. Your help will be extremely appreciated!
3. Make a product donation. Create the most impact with what you give by calling or visiting your local food bank to ask what items are most in-demand. Each food bank has different needs and clients with varying tastes. This is an opportunity to give what matters most to those who need it most.
4. Ask about in-demand non-food items. Did you know that many food banks also distribute toiletries, paper goods, menstruation products, and diapers? These items are just as valuable as food, but often forgotten. Period poverty is a real problem for women. Each month the price of menstruation products is seven dollars per woman. Women in poverty often find themselves having to choose between access to these essential products or feeding their families. Lack of access to menstruation products can leave women homebound for a week, making them miss work or school, and can also raise health and sanitation concerns. So make sure to ask your local food bank about essential non-food items, too!
5. Make a monetary donation. There are many ways to give. Monthly pledges, fundraisers, and memorial giving are all great options. Each and every dollar counts. Every year, 72 billion pounds of food are wasted in America. Your donation helps reduce this number by salvaging safe and healthy food. It is is a resource that will empower and benefit those who need it most.
6. Become an advocate: tell Congress to fight hunger. Now is the time to speak up! Legislators will listen to their voting constituents. It is important that we protect and expand programs that feed Americans who otherwise may go hungry.
Among these programs are the The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
The National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs ensure that low-income children are ready to learn. The Summer Food Service Program even provides meals when school is not in session. These programs give every child an opportunity to make the most of their education by helping them access healthy food that is imperative to brain development.
Invite your representative to visit a food bank in their district. They will see firsthand why it is essential to fund programs that feed Americans who are at risk of hunger.
The holidays are a time of abundance for many. During this season we should be mindful of people who need our help, give generously to those who are hungry or homeless, and celebrate the badasses making a difference. #TheFemWord
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