The Meelia Center for Community Engagement hosted “Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week” on November 13-17, 2023. This nationally recognized week is dedicated to raising awareness and reducing the stigma around homelessness and hunger.
Throughout the week, students learned about the local and global impacts that homelessness and hunger have on society. On a typical night, 580,000 Americans face homelessness, and 44 million people suffer from hunger in the United States alone. Saint Anselm students learned the many ways to raise awareness and support the millions of individuals who are affected and experience these conditions.
Nicole Lora ’06, Director of the Meelia Center for Community Engagement, stated that this year’s events focused on “education and awareness, hoping that it will provide opportunities for students to reflect and inspire.”
The week was honored with two major events, one being the Oxfam Hunger Banquet. Through the banquet students gained insight into hunger on a global scale. It also provided many approaches in reducing the stigma around food insecurity and gave eye-opening statistics about poverty around the world. At the end of the presentation, students ate from a simple menu, that included beans and rice, to show the typical meal in an impoverished household.
The second major event of the week was the Hunger & Homelessness Informational Panel, which featured local experts who work with the at-risk population in the Manchester area. The two key speakers were Erin George-Kelly, Director of Homeless Youth Services at Waypoint and Jocelyne Pinsonneault, Manchester School District Homeless Liaison/Parent Involvement Coordinator.
“The panel focused on our local community and the efforts to support our neighbors who are unhoused or struggling with permeant and stable housing,” said Lora. They offered candid information about how and why people become homeless and informed the students that most Americans are only an arm’s reach away from homelessness. Panelists explained that an illness or accident could financially devastate a family, and beyond that there are a lot of different reasons why a family could fall on hard times.
“Awareness of homelessness and hunger is a crucial conversation, and it doesn't end here,” said Psychology major Gigi Goulet ‘25, Meelia Center Community Events Coordinator & Student Support Manager. “I encourage everyone to continue educating themselves on the topic and doing what they can to support organizations that work with this population.”
Many times during the week, the question was asked, “how can college students help?” Anselmians can make a meaningful impact on hunger and homelessness in their community by educating themselves about the root causes and complexities of these issues. Being informed allows for constructive conversations and empowers students to advocate for effective solutions. Secondly, voting in elections is crucial for systematic change. Lastly, direct involvement, such as volunteering and fundraising, provides tangible assistance to those in need.