By Katie Mahon, Communications Manager
As we prepare for Thanksgiving and the holiday season, where many of us will enjoy delicious meals with loved ones, it is important to remember, pray, and donate time, attention, and resources to those in need.
One way you can do that is by observing Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
From November 12th – 20th, people throughout the country will raise awareness about the problems of hunger and homelessness by participating in educational, service, fundraising, and advocacy events. (1)
Since its founding in 1975 at Villanova University, each year, those who participate in Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week bring attention to the issue of poverty while growing the number of volunteers and supporters to help anti-poverty agencies to address these issues. (1)
Today, in 2022, over 700 colleges, high schools, and community groups throughout the country participate in Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. (1)
Women Religious, including several Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York, have dedicated their ministries to addressing the issues of hunger and homelessness.
At Saint Charles Borromeo Resurrection and All Saints in Harlem, Sr. Dorothy Hall, OP, a Pastoral Associate, oversees food pantries that serve many local residents in need each week.
In an interview with Global Sisters Report, Sr. Dorothy shared, “Feeding the hungry is a passion of mine. And initially, when I started, I was in the Bronx, and I was really taken aback that there was such poverty in today's world. People were in dire straits because there, the median income was less than $14,000 a year. And when I started, I was perhaps feeding 60, 65 clients a week. In the beginning, I was really stressed because I felt that what we were giving out was not sufficient to feed a family. And I just prayed. Eventually, doors opened up to me, and it went from 60, 65 people a week to 500 people a week. Basically, I think God has provided.” (2)
At Harmony Farm in Goshen, New York, Sisters Didi Madden and Ellenrita Purcaro have supported several local food pantries throughout Orange County.
In a previous interview, Sr. Didi shared, “When I see hundreds of pounds of food go to the food pantries in Goshen, Middletown, and Newburgh each week, I know that we have shared the beauty and abundance of this land in a way that contributes to food justice and health in the Hudson Valley in some small way. This ministry allows me to celebrate creation, build community, and foster food justice, a balanced expression of living a practical, integral life of faith.” (3)