This week, the University of Wyoming recognized Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, along with many others across the country.
Hunger Week at UW took place between Nov. 10 – 16, and included a canned food drive for children in Laramie hosted by Order of Omega. Order of Omega also collects backpacks to gather the food to give to underprivileged children in the area.
The events hosted at UW are part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week that is held by the National Coalition for the Homeless.
While hunger and homelessness may not seem to greatly affect residents in Wyoming, nearly 15.4 percent of rural households do not have enough to eat, which is about three million households, according to Feeding America.
Some issues that can attribute to the amount of food shortage in rural areas include lower education levels and more low-wage jobs that exist in those areas.
Hunger not only exists in rural households, but in suburban areas as well. Nearly 48 percent of those who receive help from Feeding America live in either rural or suburban areas. The regions that have the highest level of food insecurities are the Southern and Western regions of the United States. In 2000, fourteen states with the highest levels of poverty were located in those regions, according to Feeding America.
Hunger does not necessarily involve being homeless. In fact, many people who face food insecurity are working but do not have the money to buy enough food.
However, homeless rates have also become an increasing problem in the United States.
In 2000, it was estimated that 3.5 million people were homeless. In 2008, it was found that 19 out of 25 cities that were surveyed reported an increase in homeless rates from the previous year, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless.
The National Coalition for the Homeless holds Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week along with the National Student Campaign Against Hunger the week before Thanksgiving every year. During the holidays, people can become enveloped in their own holiday plans that it is easy to forget that there are people in their area who are less fortunate. Thanksgiving is a time for being thankful for what you have, but it is also a time to give back.
This year, try cutting food portions in half and take what you did not cook for dinner to a local food bank, or volunteer at a homeless shelter over the break.
