National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

Each year, one week before Thanksgiving, National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness co-sponsor National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. During this week, a number of schools, communities and cities take part in a nationwide effort to bring greater awareness to the problems of hunger and homelessness. ...

The Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People, Inc. was proud to collaborate with the AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers, the Student Social Work Organization at Minot State University/ Bismarck Branch, and other community partners, volunteers and sponsors for National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week.

Thank you for making a difference in lives of those in need in our community!

Please scroll down to see some of the week's highlights:

“... We salute all who support this effort and those involved in recognizing National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in our community.”

-- Mayor John Warford, City of Bismarck

Friday, November 20~

Freezin’ for a Reason: Outdoor Community Homeless & Hunger Awareness event

Event was facilitated by the Student Social Work Organization at Minot State University/ Bismarck Branch

Above: Tami Wahl, policy advisor to the Office of Governor John Hoeven, reads the Governor's Proclamation of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week; below right: volunteer Shelly Paul displays a sign with the 2009 Point In Time survey count information. Below left and side left: event volunteers waving signs at traffic along S. Washington St. during the after-work hour rush; soup served from the American Red Cross mobile unit by ND National Guard members and RSVP volunteers; a young volunteer proud to hold her sign.

Moderator Paul Griffin, standing far left, listens along with the other panel members as Michael Carbone, behind table third from left, gives the audience an overview as to the state of homelessness in the state of North Dakota.

Moderator and panelists from left: Paul Griffin, Consensus Council; Pastor Gary Heaton, MedCenter One; Susan Martin, Ruth Meiers Hospitality House; Alicia Berger, Young Professionals Network; Dwight Barden, Burleigh County Housing Authority.

Bismarck Mayor John Warford, above, visits with Jaime Fox, Single Point of Entry (SPE) coordinator with the Ruth Meiers Hospitality House. The SPE Program provided information, advice, and services as available (i.e. sleeping bags, hygiene kits, CAT bus route maps) to individuals in need at the community forum panel discussion.

The Single Point of Entry Program is a component of the Bismarck-Mandan 10-Year Plan to End Long Term Homelessness.

The Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People, Inc. would like to thank our volunteers, community partners, sponsors,

and contributors for helping to making the week a success!

THANK YOU!:

Mayor John Warford, City of Bismarck

Mayor Tim Helbling, City of Mandan

Tami Wahl, policy advisor, Office of Governor John Hoeven, State of North Dakota

American Red Cross

AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers

Bismarck Public Library

Burleigh County Housing Authority

Consensus Council

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Minot State University Student Social Work Organization/ Bismarck Branch

Morton Mandan Public Library

ND National Guard

North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People, Inc.

North Dakota Housing Finance Agency

Rhonda Gowen

RSVP

Ruth Meiers Hospitality House

Soup Café

University of Mary Student Optimist Club

URL Radio

Yankee Candle

Thank you for supporting National Hunger and

Homelessness Awareness Week 2009!