Iota-Beta Chapter Holds Homeless Awareness Week

Each year, the week prior to Thanksgiving is recognized as National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. It's an opportunity to reflect on all that we are thankful for, share compassion, and most important, work toward the prevention of hunger and homelessness.

Last month, from November 16-20, members from the Iota-Beta chapter at Susquehanna University raised awareness, funds and food donations by hosting their own Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week on campus. During the week, members of the chapter manned a tent placed outside the university's student center for 12 hours a day. The tent placed in the center of campus served as a symbol of homelessness and brought about questions and conversation regarding the issue.

Frater Damian Munoz, the chapter's public relations chairman, expressed a strong sense of pride with the group's efforts.

"The event proved to be a great success in terms of monetary and food donations," said Munoz. "As a great result of the week-long demonstration, the campus and the surrounding community has become more cognizant of the enduring problem that is homelessness."

When students and faculty would approach the tent, members of the chapter discussed their commitment to helping those in need. The chapter furthered its reach by sharing statistics and stories concerning hunger and homelessness on its Facebook and Instagram pages.

Dillan Warr, Prytanis of the Iota-Beta chapter, explained that the event was designed more for PR than as a money raiser/food collector, although the chapter did raise more than $150 and several boxes of canned food.

"We want to make people aware of the current hardships being faced by millions of people both in our community and the greater United States," Warr says.

"It is a crucial time of the year to raise awareness, funds and food for the homeless," says Dylan Smith, Iota-Beta's philanthropy chair. "With the holidays upon us, we are trying to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday for everything, and with our efforts in raising awareness in our small community, it just might make a difference."

For more information, please contact:

Daniel Klopfenstein
Communications Specialist
317.872.6533
DKlopfenstein@tke.org