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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week at UNE

About 10 percent of Maine households experience food insecurity - that is about 141,000 people, or half of the York County population, or more than six times the population of the city of Biddeford. Students at the University of New England are hosting a week-long series of events from November 16-21, 2009 at the Biddeford Campus to promote and raise awareness about hunger and homelessness in the Biddeford area, in Maine, in the United States, and around the world.

Edmund Burke once said: "Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little." Though they cannot stop world hunger overnight, students at the University of New England believe they can make a difference one step at a time.

"Our goal with observing this week is to help raise awareness about the socio-economic disparities experienced in our state and throughout the world," said student organizer Man Ho. "Our theme is to 'think globally, act locally' as we offer a wide range of speakers, programming, and activities to help educate and engage UNE students in discussion around hunger and homelessness."

Ho, who spearheaded all program events as part the requirements for a Citizenship course in sociology, is no stranger to the complexities of hunger and homelessness himself. Immigrated from Vietnam 11 years ago, Ho spent seven years of his early childhood in a refugee camp before coming to the United States.

The UNE Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is co-sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs & Diversity Programs and UNE Sodexho, while student clubs Rotoract and Habitat for Humanity will take a leadership role in coordinating individual events.    

Monday, November 16, 2009: Oxfam International Hunger Banquet
Decary Café Function Room 1 & 2    5:30pm - 7pm
An Oxfam Hunger Banquet dramatizes the unequal distribution of food in the world. The Banquet will leave many people hungry, some with just enough to eat and very few with full stomachs. Hunger Banquet participants are randomly assigned to one of three-socio-economic levels that represent proportional global standards-of-living. Out of every 100 people, 15 enjoy a full-course meal complete with royal treatment, 35 sit in a simple setting and eat a meager meal, and the remaining 50 share rice, without utensils, while sitting on the floor.  

Tuesday, November 17, 2009: Faces of Homelessness speakers and panel Pettapiece and Simard Room (MPRs), UNE Campus Center 12pm - 2pm
A Faces Panel provides an opportunity for dialogue between homeless or formerly homeless persons with those who want to learn more about homelessness. The Panel members speak about their experiences and answer questions from the audience.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009: "One night without a home" sleeps out Alfond Lawn 6pm - 6am
The "One Night" is an opportunity for UNE community residents to spend a night outside to discuss, think, and learn about homelessness. Although one night outside can in no way simulates homelessness, this awareness-raising activity can promote advocacy, protest, and education.  

Thursday, November 19, 2009: movie night featuring "The Pursuit of Happyness" 2006 Cultural Exchange Lounge (Lower Decary) 7pm - 11pm
A heartwarming film that demonstrates how good, hard-working people can become homeless overnight. This film is based on a true story about a man named Christopher Gardner (Will Smith), who is a down-and-out dad trying to better his family's life. A chain of circumstances left Gardner jobless and homeless at age 30, and he found himself and his son living in a bathroom at a San Francisco train station. Despite the negative situation, Gardner continued to fight toward his goal of becoming a stockbroker, and would eventually become a self-made millionaire.  

Friday, November 20, 2009: Community Service day TBD (York County Food Rescue) 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Group of UNE students and faculties will volunteer at local soup kitchen in Biddeford, serving dinner to needy people, a chance for the UNE community to give back to the local community as well as stimulate interest in future community service.  

Saturday, November 21, 2009: Reflection day on the week St. Francis Room 12pm - 2pm Wrap up event of the week, a chance for participants in the week long events of the UNE hunger and homelessness awareness week to reflect on their experiences and reactions. Group discussion, quiet journaling, and group brainstorming about what can we do as a community to prevent and limit hunger and homelessness in Maine.

For more information on the UNE Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week programs, contact student leader Man Ho at mho@une.edu or Donna Gaspar Jarvis, Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Programs at (207) 602-2461 or dgaspar@une.edu.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.