Hunger and Homelessness Efforts Earn Praise
KEENE, N.H. - The Keene State College community has made a “huge impact” on raising the awareness of hunger and homelessness issues, says Joely Ross, KSC’s AmeriCorpsVISTA volunteer. Ross, who coordinated the College’s Hunger and Homelessness Week activities Nov. 14-20, recently summarized the College’s efforts:
- $678.20 raised from selling bowls as part of the Keene Community Kitchen’s Empty Bowls project. The amount raised put the Kitchen past its $6,000 goal, said director Mindy Cambiar. “Working with Joely was wonderful. I would like to work with her again.”
- 330 students gave up a meal in the Dining Commons, allowing the DC to donate that much food to the Community Kitchen.
- 20 students slept outside the Student Center to raise awareness of homelessness.
- About 900 people formed a food brigade and passed 3,600 cans from KSC down Main Street to the Community Kitchen on Mechanic St.
- Working with the St. James Thrift Shop, five bags of warm clothes were collected and will be donated to homeless people in Boston.
The event was just as successful in getting students and other community members together to discuss these issues, says co-organizer Anne Mullane, a junior. She and Ross hope the event will happen next year.
“People have come to count on it,” says Ross.
