Target Hunger Invites Houston to Observe Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, November 12-20

HOUSTON, Nov. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (November 12-20), Target Hunger reminds us that Houston's hungry and homeless community is in need – every week. 

In Houston, on any given day, an estimated 53,000 people are hungry and of the 153,000 people who receive food assistance each week from pantries, approximately 47% of those people are children. Approximately 1 in 4 families in Houston lack money for groceries at least once per month, and hungry families report they often must choose between paying for food or paying for another necessity. These trade-off decisions include utilities, rent, medicine or medical care.

While Target Hunger works year-round to alleviate hunger, upcoming events for this month include the following:

• Holiday distribution of food bags and turkeys on Friday, November 18, 2011, and Saturday, November 19, 2011, for registered clients of Target Hunger.
• An educational food fair will be held at the Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center (6402 Market St.) on Tuesday, November 22, 2011, for residents of neighborhoods within the surrounding service areas. Residents who attend will learn about social services within the community and also receive 25 lbs to 30 lbs of fresh produce.
• An educational food fair will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2011, for residents of Cuney Homes (3260 Truxillo). Residents will learn how to make "healthy choices" and also receive 25 lbs to 30 lbs of fresh produce.

Each year, one week before Thanksgiving, the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness co-sponsor National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

During this week, schools, communities, and cities take part in a nationwide effort to bring greater awareness to the problems of hunger and homelessness. In 2010, more than 500 universities, colleges, high schools, community, and religious groups held Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week events.

Target Hunger:

Target Hunger was established in 1989 to meet the needs of the growing hungry population in the Houston area. The organization targets hunger directly through 12 food pantries and 16 community gardens, as well as focusing on solving the root causes of hunger by offering training courses in nutrition, self-esteem, ESL, adult literacy, and job search workshops.  Annually, Target Hunger distributes more than 4 million pounds of food. Each month, Target Hunger provides food and services to more than 10,500 individuals in the Houston's inner city neighborhoods.

SOURCE Target Hunger