Hunger and Homelessness Continue

10/19/2007

Paul Munnis

We’ve had our sensitivity training on hunger at “Empty Bowls,” and on homelessness at “Cardboard Village.”

Now what are we doing about it?

The easy way out for us is to donate some money to Channel One who will use it in good measure to provide food for hungry families. Plan B is to donate actual food stuffs although they are better off with a cash donation. God only knows with winter coming, Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, there is going to be a huge demand on Channel One. The number of people in need is on the increase. So is a need for volunteers to help to stack the shelves, unpack the food, and manage the pick-up and delivery.

Some in our area Churches are doing something about hunger and they are running soup kitchens and feeding the hungry on a daily basis. They too need volunteers since a commitment is needed to feed the hungry. The poor need to eat seven days a week just as we need to.

Meals on Wheels is desperate for volunteers to help deliver foods to the elderly who depend on this service to obtain a warm healthy meal. If you can help then they will appreciate it.

Our schools are finding hungry kids and making sure they get to eat a meal at lunchtime regardless of their ability to pay. Keep on supporting this program, kids are innocent and they have no earning power. They depend on adults to help them survive.

Rochester is working at solving the hunger problem and we expect to see more efforts in coming weeks as more volunteers respond to increased needs.

Homelessness is a different matter. We have some low cost housing coming online in Rochester and the need is real. Demand far outstrips supply.

The Salvation Army is putting up transitional housing units down on Broadway and construction is in progress.

We have some low income housing available in our city also.

Habitat for Humanity is active in Rochester and is expanding its program to include girl-power in both new construction and renovation programs. They are seeking volunteers.

There is a battered women’s shelter and the address of it is kept confidential to protect the residents. If you need information then contact Olmsted County Social Services. They are a good source for all of the services mentioned here.

There may be more services available and if so I encourage that a press release be sent to us at . We will gladly run it.

The other day I noticed a barrel at Evangel Methodist Church and if you have warm weather coats that your kids have outgrown they are recycling them to help out with winter coming. Other organizations like Salvation Army also are in need of warm weather clothes for youth. Remember that a 17 or 18 year old child is still a youth so larger sizes are needed. Donations of clothing to rummage sales is a major way to help clothe people.

America runs on a volunteer system and people rise to the occasion. If you can spare some time, talent, or treasure to help feed the hungry or to help shelter the homeless ot to help clothe people then you are indeed part of the brotherhood or sisterhood of mankind.