Poverty, Homelessness, and Hunger

Let’s Review Blue Sky What’s Your Passion/Cause? Introduction to Philanthropy Knowledge + Passion + Action! = Change

TEKS Language Arts Gr. 6: Learn the meaning and properly use a variety of grade level words (e.g., words from literature, social studies, science, math). Gr. 7: Identify the literal meanings and shades of meaning of words. Determine word meaning through definition or explanation context clues. Gr. 8: Determine word meaning through definition or explanation context clues. Respond appropriately to group members' questions and contributions. Social Studies Gr. 6: Describe roles and responsibilities of citizens in selected contemporary societies including the United States. Identify different points of view about an issue or topic. Gr. 7: Support a point of view on a social studies issue or event. Gr. 8: Support a point of view on a social studies issue or event.

Objectives Students will understand that: hunger and homelessness are two symptoms of poverty. hunger and homelessness are widespread and can not always be recognized. they can help to alleviate the problem of hunger in Central Texas by participating in “The Drive.”

HOMELESS

Homeless (adj) having no home or permanent place to live

What Do We Know about Homelessness? Homelessness is not a big problem in America. You can tell people are homeless by looking at them. Nick’s parents do not have their own home, but Nick’s family moves around and stays with different friends. Nick’s family is homeless. Britney sleeps in a city shelter with her mother each night, so she is not homeless.

FACT In February, 2010…AISD counted close to 3,000 school age children as homeless or living in “doubled up” arrangements. -- Foundation for the Homeless

VOICE Paul, Age 12 When we first came here, we didn’t have a house….We didn’t have coats….We had to sleep in an abandoned house for half the night. My mom called from the public phone to my other aunt. She came to pick us up. We slept in her house, but my mom, she was looking for money and food and she didn’t sleep. It was scary.

HUNGER

Hunger, noun A craving or urgent need for food or a specific nutrient An uneasy sensation brought on by lack of food A weakened condition caused by prolonged lack of food

What Do We Know about Hunger? Hunger is a big problem in America. You can tell if a person is hungry just by looking at him or her. Danny’s parents feed him two meals a day, but never three. Danny is hungry. Tara can eat three meals a day, but the only food her parents give her is Frosted Flakes. Tara is not hungry.

FACT Texas ranks first in the nation in children who are hungry. --Texas Agriculture Commissioner, 2009

VOICE Latoya, Age 11 Sometimes we’re really hungry. Sometimes our electricity blows and we have nothing to eat but Cheerios and milk. Sometimes we even have to eat cereal and milk for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sometimes I’m scared for my friends to come over cause what if my mom don’t have food and they say, “Do you have any juice?” “No.” “Do you have a sandwich I could make?” “No.” They might make fun of me and say, “Oh well, Latoya don’t have enough to eat at her house. We shouldn’t go over her house and hang out with her, because she don’t have enough to eat.”

Hunger Can Be Hidden (Food Insecurity)

SOLVING PROBLEMS Prevention Band-Aid

STARFISH STORY A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement. She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, “Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”

The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied, “Well, I made a difference to that one!” The old man looked at the girl inquisitively and thought about what she had done and said. Inspired, he joined the little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved. - adapted from the Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley

The Drive

Advocate (noun) is one who defends or pleads on behalf of another person or cause. The advocate pleaded with the mayor to provide more food for hungry families. THE DRIVE Advocating for the Cause

The Drive 2009 Students from 20 schools:  collected over 31,000 pounds of food.  collected over 2,000 coats.  met the entire need for coats in Del Valle.  performed 20,108 hours of good work.  returned $214, of economic value to the Austin community. Goals for 2010 Coats – 2400 Food – 35,000 lbs

Capitol Area Food Bank Facts 41% of our clients are children 95% of our Partner Agencies say they could no longer serve their clients if the Food Bank shut down tomorrow More than 1/3 of our older adult clients go extended periods without food 1 in 5 families we serve experience the physical pain of hunger

Almost half of our clients have at least one working adult at home Almost half of the families we serve have to choose between buying food and paying utilities 82% of our clients are not homeless Of the 48,000 clients we serve each week 20,000 are children Capitol Area Food Bank Facts

Coats for Kids 7 months out of the year it drops below 60 degrees. November – February the average lows are in the 40s. Many of the Coats for Kids clients do not have heat in their homes. Coats for Kids needs warm winter coats for both adults or kids in the community.

Brainstorm Ways to Advocate on Your Campus 1.Come up with a motto/slogan for your food and coat drive. 2.Educate the other students on your campus about hunger and poverty through your advocacy campaign. 3.Get the word out about The Drive.

Bring Your Cans and Coats to School November 1 st -16 th Help Reduce Hunger in Central Texas. Join the Drive! 1 out of 5 children in Texas are hungry.

Approximately 200,000, or 20%, of Travis County residents are classified as "working poor" by the Texas Dept. of Human Services. Approximately 200,000, or 20%, of Travis County residents are classified as "working poor" by the Texas Dept. of Human Services. 61% of Austin Independent School District (AISD) students are eligible for free or reduced lunch. 61% of Austin Independent School District (AISD) students are eligible for free or reduced lunch. 22% of children in Texas are facing hunger, and this is the highest rate in the nation. 22% of children in Texas are facing hunger, and this is the highest rate in the nation. 12.5% of Austin-area families are living at or below poverty level. 12.5% of Austin-area families are living at or below poverty level. In 2007 approximately 45,214 children lived at or below the poverty line. In 2007 approximately 45,214 children lived at or below the poverty line. Other Local Statistics

Final Thoughts "The day someone quits school he is condemning himself to a future of poverty.“ --Jaime Escalante, educator “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” --Margaret Mead, anthropologist