2024 Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week

Join the Student Community Engagement Center and our campus and community partners in honor of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week from November 17th - November 23rd!

Hunger & Houselessness Awareness Week (HHAW) is a national campaign that takes place annually the week before Thanksgiving. This week serves as a time for reflection and action, shedding light on the dual issues of hunger and houselessness, which impact millions of Americans. Organized by campuses and communities nationwide, HHAW provides opportunities for learning, dialogue, and volunteerism, encouraging individuals to consider ways to support those in need while recognizing our own privileges.

Learn about the movement

Book Drive Happening All Week from Nov. 18 - Nov. 22nd:

Book Drive for Street Books: Love reading? Got some extra paperbacks to spare? Donate them to Street Books as part of Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week! Partnering with Street Books, a unique bicycle-powered library serving Portland’s unhoused community, the Student Community Engagement Center hosts a book drive during Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. This initiative supports Street Books' mission of providing literary resources to those who may not have access to a traditional library.

Donations of books in good condition are welcome, especially those focused on fiction, memoirs, and other genres of interest to all ages. Paperbacks are much preferred as they are lighter to carry. No textbooks, please!

Donation boxes can be found all week in Smith Memorial Student Union, in SMSU m103 (Hub for Service & Sustainability) and m113 (SALP Clubhouse), on the first floor mezzanine.

Learn More!

Our volunteers serving meals at blanchet house

Tuesday 11/19: Blanchet House Lunchtime Meal Service

Participate in meal preparation and service at Blanchet House, an organization providing meals for Portland’s houseless population. Option to MAX over to Blanchet House together from campus. November 19th from 11am - 1pm

Wednesday 11/20: Sort Household Donations at Community Warehouse

Volunteer your time sorting donations for Community Warehouse! We will be helping with ongoing projects such as silverware bundling, linen sorting, and more! November 20th, 2024 from 4:30pm to 7:30pm

Thursday 11/21: Assemble Goodie Bags for Homebound Seniors

Looking for a way to make a difference before the holidays? Want to meet other PSU students while volunteering? Join PSU's Student Community Engagement Center to volunteer your time making goodie bags for Store to Door to brighten a senior's day! We will meet in Org Space (M108) in the Smith Memorial Student

Friday 11/22: Housing and Belonging - A Community Conversation with Oregon Humanities

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on housing and belonging, facilitated by community organizer Yimei Shao as part of Oregon Humanities' Conversation Project during Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. November 22nd from 4:30pm to 6:00pm

Our Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week Partners

Green square with a lighter green B that looks like it has a house inside it

blue square with the words Community Warehouse: Your Local Furniture Bank in white

black and white bicycle with cargo box in front that reads Street Books

red background and the letters O. Hm. in white

Blanchet House provides essential aid to those facing hunger and homelessness in Portland. Known for serving hot meals, offering clothing, and operating a residential recovery program, Blanchet House empowers individuals by fostering hope and dignity.

Learn more...

Community Warehouse is a furniture bank that supplies donated home goods to families and individuals transitioning into stable housing. By redistributing gently-used furniture and household items, they help create warm, functional living spaces that foster comfort and stability.

Learn more...

Store to Door is a volunteer-driven organization that delivers groceries & other essentials to Portland’s homebound elderly and disabled residents. Through reliable, friendly service, Store to Door ensures that vulnerable individuals can remain nourished and independent in their own home.

Learn more...

Street Books brings books to people living outside in Portland. Through its bicycle-powered library, Street Books provides access to reading materials, creating a unique bridge to literature for those who may not have access otherwise.

Learn more...

Known for fostering meaningful discussions, Oregon Humanities' Conversation Project creates spaces for Oregonians to come together and discuss topics that shape our society, from housing issues to community belonging.

Learn more...

On-Campus Resources

Resources to Support Students Experiencing Food or Housing Insecurity

The Smallwood Food Pantry works to provide free groceries for PSU students in partnership with the Oregon Food Bank and through support from PSU and private donors. We provide people enrolled at PSU with access to free groceries several thousand times per year in a welcoming, equitable, trauma-informed way.

Food Pantry: Open five days a week to PSU students in SMSU 48 in the basement of Smith Memorial Student Union.
Free Food Market: The 2nd Monday of every month, 9:30 - 11am (or until food runs out) in the South Park Blocks behind Shattuck Hall

Located on campus, the Basic Needs Hub connects students to food, housing, and other essential resources, ensuring they have the support needed to focus on their education and well-being. Our mission is to connect PSU students to resources in the moment of need so students can focus on academic

Learn more...

Learn About Local Organizations Supporting Individuals Experiencing Hunger & Homelessness

The Student Community Engagement Center will be featuring local organizations doing important work in supporting individuals experiencing hunger and homelessness on Instagram (portland_state_volunteers). Follow us Instagram to learn more about these organizations and how to get involved!