In Union County alone, there are over 1,600 people affected by homelessness. Throughout November the students of Kean University will have the opportunity to lend a helping hand to those suffering with Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
November 11 through November 21, 2015, is Kean University’s week to give back to the surrounding community.Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is organized through the Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) and will offer different community service projects for those wanting to make an impact on a growing issue that continues to plague this country.
The schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, November 11 – Be a part of the Food Rescue at KosherFest 2015. KosherFest is a large Kosher convention of vendors and restaurants, that produces hundreds of pounds of leftover food. Volunteers are needed to help collect and sort food that is being donated by vendors at the end of the event. Volunteers will be helping collect, package, and sort food along with other activities that require running around; comfortable clothes are a must. This event will take place from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; participants are expected to be ready to depart from Vaughn-Eames around 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 14 – Take a trip to theCommunity Food Bank of New Jersey. The shuttle will be departing at 11:00 a.m. from the Vaughn-Eames Parking Lot and arriving back on campus approximately around 2:00 p.m.
Monday, November, 16 – Take a stand withStand Campaign. Those involved will create posters and flyers with facts and statements to raise awareness about global homelessness and actively display them along Cougar Walk. Multiple sessions of this activity might be taking place – check Cougar Link for updates.
Tuesday, November 17 – Help the CLS volunteer at theCommunity Food Bank of New Jersey’s Pediatric Mobile Food Pantry. The shuttle will be departing at 11:30 a.m. and returning approximately around 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 18 –Feed the Less Fortunate with sandwiches made by Kean students. All completed sandwiches will be delivered to Saint John's Food Pantry in Elizabeth, New Jersey where they distribute food daily to local homeless and working poor individuals. Those involved are encouraged to help the effort by bringing a bag of bread to MSC room 228 between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The more food, the better!
Thursday, November 19 – Natives of Hiroshima, Japan have created their own symbol of world peace: the paper crane. After the bombings during World War II, a young girl affected by the aftermath was determined to construct 1,000 paper cranes in hopes that happiness and togetherness could be achieved on a global scale – unfortunately, she never completed her goal. In 1955, young children throughout Hiroshima came together to finish making the 1,000 paper cranes that are displayed in the city. Join the CLS as they craft 1,000 paper cranes to be donated to the Voices of September 11th Organization. Their mission is to help families heal and recover from the tragedy that took place on 9/11. The origami will begin at 12:30 p.m. and will continue until 4:30 p.m. in MSC room 228.
Thursday, November 19 – Between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., experience what it is like to be stricken with poverty as the Second Annual Hunger Simulation takes place. Students will draw at random, an identity of a person affected by hunger and/or homelessness to portray throughout the simulation. There will be multiple sessions held at the following times: Session 1 at 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Session 2 at 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Session 3 at 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in MSC room 315.
Friday, November 20 – Volunteers will return back to the Community Food Bank for another day of work. The shuttle will be departing from the Vaughn-Eames Parking Lot at 12:30 p.m. and returning approximately at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 21 –Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week goes out with a bang with Habitat for Humanity. Habitat has built or rehabilitated more than 400,000 houses.After registering for this event, please visit www.hfhvolunteerinsurance.com prior to the volunteer day to view a short video on what is expected at the build site. Click on Step 2, and enter the access code W8NAEBTG. Click submit, and select “Volunteering at a Habitat for Humanity Job Site”. The course will briefly cover safety issues and what to wear. When the video is over, exit the program.
All acts of service during this week require per-registration via Cougar Link.
For more information, please contact the CLS, located in Miron Student Center room 219, by calling 908-737-5170.
