[printer friendly (text) page]

As part of its dedication to help strengthen the local Pittsburgh community, the Student Volunteer Outreach (SVO) at the University of Pittsburgh is taking part in National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. The SVO is partnering with the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness to give Pitt students the opportunity to fight the effects of poverty on a grassroots level and interact with Pittsburgh's homeless.

During the week of November 17-23, one week before Thanksgiving, Pitt students will have the opportunity to take part in service projects that are hosted by non-profit agencies and focus on reaching out to homeless people. On November 19 and 22, the SVO will be participating in a “drop-in” that is run by the East End Co-op Ministries. The drop-in is a safe place, open for three hours, five days a week, where individuals may get off the street, escape the elements, enjoy snacks and beverages and relax by playing ping-pong or interacting with each other. The University students will perform various duties such as signing people in, setting and cleaning up, passing out snacks and other tasks required while there. Representatives from the Co-op encourage all volunteers to interact with the participants of the drop-in, knowing that a personal connection is important in understanding the lifestyle of a homeless person. On November 20, Pitt students will be traveling to the East End again to give their services to a soup kitchen. Volunteers will help to prepare and serve lunch for needy individuals and families.

SVO will also work during the week with a longtime partner, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The food bank is a non-profit organization committed to eliminating hunger and developing collaborative strategies that encourage self-sustainment among areas in which it works. In the past, SVO has provided volunteers to the food bank in a number of capacities, such as packaging donated food to be shipped and working at the Food Farm in Washington County picking, washing and packaging vegetables to be distributed around the city. On November 21 and 22, Pitt students will visit the food bank for an orientation session, where they will learn about the organization and its programs, take a tour of the warehouse, be given information about hunger in Pittsburgh and will package food.

If you would like more information or have questions concerning the Student Volunteer Outreach, East End Co-op Ministries, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank or the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, or if you would like to set up your own project, please refer to these websites or feel free to contact the Student Volunteer Outreach directly service@pitt.edu.

Student Volunteer Outreach
www.svo.pitt.edu

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
http://www.pittsburghfoodbank.org

East End Co-op Ministries
http://www.hebrononline.org/Missions/bio/eastendbio.html

National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness
http://www.studentsagainsthunger.org