“Have you ever been hungry or not had the resources to buy food?  The fact is 1 in 8 Americans struggle with hunger.  A total of 36 million Americans struggle with hunger, including 13 million children,” said Karen Myers, Director of HOTEL INC, home to one of the Bowling Green’s largest food banks. Myers sees countless families come through her office in need of food assistance during the year, and the WKU ALIVE Center plans to encourage campus and community members to help.

The WKU ALIVE Center for Community Partnerships will host a Campus & Community Food Drive during Nov. 14-18 as part of Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. The Center plans to help increase the supply of food at HOTEL INC and the Salvation Army through challenging individuals to donate at least six nonperishable items, which is the equivalent to one meal for a large family, according to HOTEL INC. 

The civic organization that donates the most nonperishable items will receive 10 free pizzas thanks to Mancino’s, and the WKU department or local business that collects the most nonperishable items will win 10 free entrees from Fazoli’s.

Individuals who want to donate can drop off nonperishable items at the WKU ALIVE Center, Starbucks on Scottsville Road, Salvation Army, or HOTEL INC. Groups that drop off their items directly at Salvation Army and HOTEL INC should obtain a receipt for their donation to inform the ALIVE Center of the contribution.

In addition to the food drive, the Center is working with a number of other organizations to promote a series of activities taking place during the week. Activities include an awareness fair, Oxfam© World Hunger Banquet, a documentary and discussion on poverty, a campaign to encourage youth of all ages to use freerice.com to earn grain for the United Nations World Food Program, Share a Swipe meal plan donation, a local forum on homelessness, and a proclamation signing by the mayor.

For a full listing of activities for Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, visit www.wku.edu/alive. For information, call the ALIVE Center at 270-782-0082.

The ALIVE Center for Community Partnerships supports community development locally and abroad through campus and community partnerships. The ALIVE CCP connects students, faculty, staff, and community members to resources and opportunities for meaningful service and engaged scholarship.