Pacific Lutheran University

Bringing awareness to growing issues

Hunger and homelessness isn’t some other place now-a-days for a lot of people, said PLU junior Breona Mendoza.

“It’s not just this distant thing,” said the Volunteer Center co-director. “It’s everywhere.”

It’s one of the reasons bringing awareness to the issues of hunger and homelessness is so important – because it affects so many people.

During Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week – all this week – those on the PLU campus will have an opportunity to learn about the issues that face almost 40 million Americans every year.

But it’s more than that, Mendoza said.

“It’s not just here’s the problem and run with it,” she said. “But here’s the problem and here’s what you can do.”

Throughout the week, people will be given different opportunities to learn, challenges to face and donations and volunteer activities to participate in.

All those interested can visit Red Square Monday, Feb. 9 and learn about the staggering facts of hunger and homelessness in the world and their own communities. They can take on the challenge on Tuesday and see what it’s like to live on $3 for a whole day (the average many people in the world live on) or they can help serve breakfast to the Tacoma hungry on Wednesday morning.

But don’t forget the problems and the opportunities to help don’t end just because awareness week wraps up, Mendoza said.

“We are hoping the outcome of these events will be to bring more awareness to it in general and provide people with the opportunity to act,” she said.