Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and along with it comes the theme of gratitude. During this time, people express what they’re thankful for, and this is often done over a hearty meal.
Some of us are capable of having feasts on Thanksgiving Day, which have become a part of the holiday’s culture. But sometimes we don’t think about those who don’t have things like food to be grateful for.
Nov. 11-18 — the week before Thanksgiving Day — is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. I believe the reason for it being so close is because Thanksgiving is portrayed as being centered around food and communal warmth. However, this sadly isn’t the case for everyone.
Since I’ve written about college students’ struggles with homelessness in the past few months, I wanted to mainly focus on the issue of food insecurity instead.
Many people in the United States go hungry each year, and among college students, the numbers are heartbreaking. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 21% of college students faced food scarcity in 2020, which was expressed through missing meals or eating less. This trend has only worsened due to the unfortunate state of our economy.
College students going hungry is a tragedy, and unfortunately it’s something a lot of students face. There’s been a couple times where I’ve seen students talk about the fact that they’re eating struggle meals, or they’ve eaten only instant ramen for about a week.
This part of the college experience is often mentioned in a joking manner, but it is sadly more of a reality than we sometimes realize.
This is why I highly support things like food pantries, especially the one we have right on UMass Boston’s campus: U-ACCESS. They offer access to their food pantry, where students can grab food once a week. In addition, they offer snacks and sometimes treats like pizza during school hours.
They also offer other resources, such as assistance in applying for SNAP benefits, or in looking for meal and snack programs. This is an option for students who may not have the funds to go elsewhere, and resources like these, along with food banks, are truly so important to those in our community who need it.
If you are privileged enough to be in a situation where food isn’t an issue, I suggest that if you have the time, you should consider volunteering on Thanksgiving Day to serve food. Last Thanksgiving Day, I had the opportunity to serve at a homeless shelter for both men and women.
The experience was humbling, and it really set my tone for the rest of the day. Waking up early on Thanksgiving to go serve others, on a day meant to consider gratitude, is a tradition I aim to continue. I helped prep the food and serve it, leading to conversations with other volunteers and the people receiving the meals.
You really don’t realize how important the little things are until you see people who do not have them. I’ve experienced homelessness and food scarcity, but it was during my childhood. Now, being an adult and seeing these tragic cycles has only left me wanting to do more.
If you have the time and opportunity to do something like feeding children or the homeless on Thanksgiving Day, I wholeheartedly recommend the experience. You’re helping people who otherwise would spend the day alone, and watching the community come together to help each other truly put tears in my eyes.
As Thanksgiving Day and Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week approach, we must realize how privileged we are during this season of thanks and gratitude. Food and shelter are sadly not a given right in our country, and just as there are people that are blessed to have both in our society, there are others who fall into misfortune.
As students, it’s easy to get caught up in our various life struggles and fall into a cycle of complaining. But there are people out there suffering far more than we know, living in war zones and going hungry. While we may not be able to help them directly, we can help those who are here in our own communities. This season, please spread kindness and thanks to those around you. It really makes a difference on the lives of everyone involved, even yourself.
This article appeared in print on Page 6 of Vol. LVIII Issue VII, published Nov. 18, 2024.
