National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week

This week is National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week – the week before Thanksgiving where, reflecting on our own thankfulness, Caritas work to heighten awareness and support for those experiencing homelessness and hunger in our communities. 

Caritas of Austin Leaders Take the SNAP Challenge

This year at Caritas of Austin has decided to make this year’s National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week one of education and empathy. With the help of their staff, volunteers, donors, and community supporters They have challenged themselves to not only observe Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, but experience it on a personal level.

One way that the organization is doing this is by having their Executive Director, Jo Kathryn Quinn, take the SNAP Food Challenge. This means she will be limited to spend $1.27 on each meal she eats for the next week, which is the average amount a SNAP client spends per meal. Reflecting on this challenge, Jo Kathryn says, “In all fairness to those who face this challenge everyday, I recognize my experience is actually nothing like yours. I can at any point go back to my cushy lifestyle. My hope is to gain insight and abundant empathy that will ultimately translate into real changes for my fellow Americans experiencing poverty and hunger.“

They will also be getting input from Caritas of Austin Case Managers, volunteers, and donors as to why ending hunger and homelessness in America should be a priority. At the beginning of next week, they will have an updated blog post documenting these full experiences – from Jo Kathryn and Lane’s SNAP Challenge to wisdom Case Managers are sharing with the community to what the Caritas of Austin team learned as a whole. You can join them on this journey by following on  social media pages, Facebook and Twitter.