NORRISTOWN, PA – November 12-20, 2022, is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, a national initiative to shine a spotlight on the problems of hunger and homelessness and organize local communities to take action.
Organizations in Montgomery County: including the Your Way Home Initiative Fund, the Norristown Hospitality Center, Neighbors Helping Neighbors on the Main Line, Manna on Main Street, the MontCo Anti-Hunger Network, the Jewish Relief Agency, and more are planning actions to help in their communities.
Members of the public, are asked to consider taking time this coming week to address hunger and homelessness in their communities. 37 million Americans are at risk of suffering from hunger, and more than 500,000 Americans are homeless on a typical night. (source: hhw.org)
“Everyone deserves a home. Unfortunately, homelessness and hunger are a part of all our communities,” said Kayleigh Silver, Administrator for the Montgomery County Office of Housing and Community Development. “In Montgomery County, 413 individuals, including 75 families, will sleep outside tonight.”
A list of Montgomery County events, donation drives, and initiatives being held this week can be found on the Your Way Home website.
Highlights of events occurring are listed below.
November 11, 13-15: Volunteer Opportunity with Jewish Relief Agency
The Jewish Relief Agency hosts Food Distributions monthly, where volunteers pack and deliver nutritious food to over 3,400 low-income households in the Greater Philadelphia area. Volunteers are needed in their Northeast Philadelphia warehouse on Sunday, November 13, to pack boxes of food. Weekday volunteer opportunities are also available.
November 16-17: One Night Without a Home with the Norristown Hospitality Center
In Solidarity with their unhoused neighbors, the Hospitality Center is inviting members of the public to spend “One Night” outside on the steps of the Montgomery County Courthouse. The event will start at 7 p.m. November 16 and go through the next morning at 7 a.m. on November 17, 2022. The group will discuss homelessness and how it impacts people in our communities–and listen to speakers and engage in group discussions about the various obstacles faced by those experiencing homelessness.
November 16: Volunteer Opportunity with Manna on Main Street
Manna on Main Street is a Your Way Home partner that works to end hunger in the North Penn region of Montgomery County. Manna will be distributing Thanksgiving holiday groceries on two days in November. On these days, Manna distributes special holiday-specific groceries to Manna’s Market clients. For the distribution on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, Manna needs 12 volunteers to serve from 4-6 p.m. and 13 volunteers to serve 5:45-8 p.m. at Manna’s facility in North Penn Commons, located at 606 East Main Street, Lansdale, PA 19446. To sign up to volunteer, email meg@mannaonmain.org.
November 19: Vigil for Homelessness Awareness
Join Neighbors Helping Neighbors on the Main Line for a remembrance of their unsheltered neighbors and those who sadly passed this year while living outside. The event will be held Saturday, November 19, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Bryn Mawr Gazebo located at 9 S, Bryn Mawr Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. The rain location is Ludington Library Large Meeting Room, located at 5 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010.
Through December 16: Team Up Against Hunger with MontCo Anti-Hunger Network
Magellan and the Philadelphia Chapter of the NFL Alumni Association are hosting a food drive to benefit the Bucks County Opportunity Council and MontCo Anti-Hunger Network. Donation suggestions for food and non-food items along with 13 drop off locations across both counties, include several police departments, local hospitals, health centers, and county/township administrative buildings. Organizations interested in becoming a drop off location for this food drive or to be considered for future opportunities, please send an email to MBHofPA@magellanhealth.com.
Give the Gift of Warmth
Everyone needs a place to call home! Help Your Way Home provide blankets, coats, socks, medical supplies, and other basic needs for people experiencing homelessness in Montgomery County. The Your Way Home Initiative Fund helps provide flexible funding for Your Way Home Montgomery County CoC providers to help families and individuals exit quickly and effectively from homelessness to permanent housing.
A gift of $75 helps one family/individual for one night
A gift of $525, helps one family/individual for one week
A gift of $2,250, helps one family/individual for one month
About Your Way Home
In January 2014, Your Way Home Montgomery County, was established as the county’s unified and coordinated housing crisis response system for families and individuals experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness. To learn more, visit www.yourwayhome.org.
