Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is in full swing at The University of Akron with a week full of events to learn, give back and gain from.

The week of activities begins Nov.16 through Nov. 22., engineered by serveAkron, to bring attention to the daily difficulties that the impoverished face and promotes the national endeavor to gain awareness on the subject of homelessness and hunger.

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, the Akron area’s homeless population is estimated to be between 800 to 900 people on any given night, with anywhere from 100 to 250 of those people having been homeless for at least a year. In the U.S, that number increases to roughly 634,000 on any night. An estimated 39 percent are under 18, 22 percent are children, 13 percent are veterans and 43 percent are disabled or otherwise unable to work.

The HopeTote donation drive will be held throughout the entire week where students can drop off toiletries and canned foods for Akron’s Haven of Rest. Donations can be dropped off in the Student Union in the Center for Service and Leadership across from the Game Room.

Monday, Nov. 17 ZPN held an All in for Hunger: Casino Night where the entry for tickets are the donation of canned goods. These canned goods are donated to Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

On Tuesday, Nov. 18, the Oxfam Hunger Banquet takes place at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom A. This event is an interactive simulation where guests are assigned the identities of people at lower, middle and upper income levels with meals provided according to their designation. The meals and attendance to the event are free for all UA students, staff and faculty.

On Wednesday, the Stop Hunger Now! meal packaging event will be in the Student Union Ballroom A from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Stop Hunger Now is a North Carolina-based hunger relief agency that has been fulfilling its commitment to end hunger for more than 13 years. Since 1998, the organization has coordinated the distribution of food and other lifesaving aid to children and families all over the world.

Thursday, Nov. 20 Donation Dash for students in the residence halls who wish to donate. Those who wish to donate are asked to put a small sign outside their door of the hall for students to drop donations. RA’s will then be around to pick up the donations for the day to donate to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

Saturday, Nov. 22 is Super Service Saturday. Members that have already signed up will be working with Haven of Rest, a non-profit Akron-based organization, to provide services for the homeless in Northeast Ohio with meals, shelter and clothing.

Students can find more information about Hunger and Homelessness Week at uakron.edu/Hunger or by contacting [email protected].