Making a Difference for the Hungry and Homeless

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner food? You probably have many happy memories of eating that treasured food on Thanksgiving Day, surrounded by family. Everyone deserves to make those happy memories. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford it. 

National Hunger and Homelessness Week, which is the week before Thanksgiving, brings attention to these issues. What motivates me as a health and wellness coach is seeing people become empowered to take care of themselves. But when I think about people who don’t have enough food or don’t have a home, it breaks my heart. Wellness can’t happen when one’s basic needs aren’t met. This is why I wanted to spread awareness of hunger and homelessness.

The food problem

You know that there are hungry people in the world, but do you know how many? According to HHWeek.org, 795 million people worldwide don’t have enough to eat. That number is shocking and unacceptable. What’s more, not all of those people are in developing countries.

There’s a misconception that hunger is only an issue in developing countries. The truth is, 44 million Americans are currently at risk of going hungry. It may be hard to believe that in such a wealthy country, so many people struggle to have food. But HHWeek.org explains, “Many Americans are living on the edge, forced to choose between basic necessities like purchasing food, paying rent, or going to the doctor.”

Food is a basic need for all human beings. Yet every day, people are forced to go without the nutrients their bodies need. Isn’t it about time this hunger problem ends for good?

The homelessness problem

Homelessness is another major problem in America, and the proof is in this map from the US Interagency Council on Homelessness. The map shows the estimated number of homeless people in every state, and the numbers are in the thousands, sometimes tens of thousands. As for homelessness around the world, Wikipedia has put together a list of homelessness statistics from a variety of countries.

How did the homelessness problem get to be this big? The National Recreation and Park Association points out that while homelessness has many causes, the biggest cause is the fact that “the cost of housing has become out of reach, even among those working full-time.” For people with ongoing financial struggles, it may become impossible to afford a place to live on a thinly-stretched budget. And once you’re homeless, it’s very hard to get back on your feet.

How you can help

If these difficult facts make you sad, I’m right there with you. I want to share some ways to make a difference and turn this situation around.

Donate - There are many organizations that help the hungry and homeless, and it only takes a few minutes to donate. But if you think your donation is too small, think again. Small donations are vital -- they add up to make a huge impact.

Feeding America is America’s largest food charity. Meals on Wheels provides food and social connections for seniors. The Hunger Project works in 23 countries to form women-led movements against hunger.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is one of the most well-known organizations fighting homelessness in America. Invisible People works against homelessness in America by sharing homeless people’s stories and advocating for change. Habitat For Humanity benefits the homeless in the US and internationally.

Spread awareness - This is a busy time of year, with people caught up in holiday planning. They may forget about the need to stop homelessness and hunger in America. But considering how many people check social media multiple times a day, making a social post is a great way to grab people’s attention.

Volunteer -  Volunteer for a charity in your community that aids the hungry and homeless. It’s incredibly important to have people who are physically present to help those in need. Volunteer Match is an excellent place to look for volunteer opportunities near you.

So while you enjoy your favorite Thanksgiving food this year, take comfort in the fact that you can also help others get the food and shelter they need. This Thanksgiving, you can be a reason someone else can be thankful.