Berea students raising awareness about hunger, homelessness

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Habitat for Humanity constructed a Shanty town on Sunday on the lawn in front of Alumni Building at Berea College as part of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Students planned to sleep in the structure on Monday and Tuesday.

November 18, 2009

Tim Mandell The Richmond Register Wed Nov 18, 2009, 08:29 AM EST

Students at Berea College have joined the fight to end hunger and homelessness.

This week, the school’s Center for Excellence in Learning Through Service (CELTS) is taking part in Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

The national campaign, which runs through Saturday, is part of a joint venture between the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness.

During Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, a number of schools, communities and cities take part in a nationwide effort to bring greater awareness to the problems of hunger and homelessness, according to information obtained from the National Coalition for the Homeless.

“It’s to educate and give students an opportunity to think about what’s happening in our community and our nation, as well as around the world,” said Betty Hibler, who directs student-led community programs at Berea College. “We think that it’s raised awareness and hopefully moves some to get involved specifically in advocacy.”

On Sunday, Habitat for Humanity constructed a Shanty town on the lawn in front of the Alumni Building. Facts about poverty and homelessness cover the structure. Several students planned to spend Monday and Tuesday night sleeping in the shanty.

Students also participated Tuesday in the OxFam Hunger Banquet, where participants are assigned the identity of different people throughout the world and eat according to the way that person would eat. That might mean sitting on the floor and eating only rice or it could mean sitting at a table being served by others.

“One of the highlights of the week is the OxFam Hunger Banquet,” Hibler said. “Students get to experience a different persona from a person around the world. It’s an exercise to really make this real to people that take part in this event.”

Today, from 4:30 to 7 p.m., there will be an event called Food For Thought, with a soup kitchen set up in Hutchins Room in Dining Services.

Stephanie Whitaker, a 2008 Berea graduate, will speak about her experience as a Bill Emerson Congressional Hunger Fellow on Thursday, from 4 to 5 p.m. in Trades Building room 214.

Friday, students participate in Take Action, where they are asked to volunteer at a local food bank, write letters to senators and representatives or learn about climate change and its effects on hungry people.

Berea College, which conducted its annual Hunger Hurts Food Drive on Nov. 7, has been involved in the Hunger and Homelessness week for seven to eight years, said Hibler.

Tim Mandell can be reached at tmandell@richmondregister.com or 623-1669 ext. 6696.

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