Cresson, Pa. – The Mount Aloysius College Campus Ministries Department will mark Hunger and Homelessness Week this week, November 12 through 16^th  with a “Hunger Banquet “ and a Homelessness Sleep Out.  Mount Aloysius’ Mercy Scholars will participate in the Hunger Banquet scheduled to take place in Cosgrave Center on Tuesday, November 13^th at 3:30 p.m. All MAC students are invited to the Homelessness Sleep Out. That event will take place in the Ihmsen Hall Breezeway. Participating students will view a short feature film on Homelessness in the Mount Aloysius College Library prior to their sleep out.

Sr. Nancy Donovan, RSM, director of campus ministries for Mount Aloysius College noted that the facts surrounding hunger and homelessness in the United States alone are sobering. “Right now in our country there are 3.5 million Americans without homes,” she said. “The numerical projection is that 51.4 percent of Americans will live below the poverty line before they are 65 years old. And,” she added, “14.6 percent of U.S. households are struggling to put food on the table. We think these are pertinent topics for MAC students. This discussion is aimed at heightening awareness of these pressing social issues and perhaps motivating Mount Aloysius students to invest their time and talent at alleviating them.” 

Nationally, the poverty-line for a family of three has been placed at $17,285 per year.  A person making minimum wage makes $14,500 annually. 

The Hunger Banquet, slated for Tuesday, begins with a brief lecture on the issue of hunger  prior to students drawing assigned income levels through a lottery. At the “banquet,” students participate by being assigned a high-income, middle-income or low-income status prior to enjoying a meal reflecting what persons in that income level would experience.

The Mount Aloysius College effort is taking place in support of the National Coalition for the Homeless and National Student Campaign Against Hunger & Homelessness.