Here in Madison, we can see the face of hunger and homelessness by simply walking down State Street.
In Wisconsin alone, 487,000 people experience hunger in any given year, and more than two-thirds of those seeking emergency shelter are turned away due to lack of beds. In the United States, 36 million people are at risk of going hungry and 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year. Worldwide, these numbers are even more disheartening.
However, the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness is doing something to help. This Saturday, NSCAHH is hosting the 21st Annual Hunger Cleanup, a mixture of service and fundraising. Volunteers are raising money. On Saturday they will do community service at local shelters and food pantries. Of the money raised, 50 percent will go to the Salvation Army Overflow Shelter here in Madison, with the other half going to NSCAHH and other international projects.
If students are interested in getting involved or learning more about hunger and homelessness, they can check out www.studentsagainsthunger.org or www.hungercleanup.org.
Kathleen Hamblin
Freshman
English and Spanish
