Community conversation planned

Urban Mission to address hunger and homelessness here in the Ohio Valley

STEUBENVILLE -- There are times when having to fix dinner prior to going to bed for the evening can be a real nuisance. But then, there are moments when we should stop and be grateful to have a meal to prepare and a bed on which to lie.

Some individuals are not so fortunate. They have no home and wonder where their next meal will come from.

So in observance of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, which began Saturday and runs through Friday, those at the Urban Mission Ministries plan to address the issue with the community.

Cynthia Lytle, director of community engagement, announced the mission will hold a community conversation from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The discussion will be to address the truths on hunger and homelessness within Jefferson County.

"This event will provide an opportunity for dialogue between individuals who have experienced homelessness and those who want to learn more about homelessness," Lytle stated. "Community members will also learn about the community agencies who are working together to address the issues of hunger and homelessness in our community and how they can get involved."

This is the first time the Urban Mission has organized an event in observance of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, and officials are thankful to have the opportunity to bring this issue to light.

"This year, we will join hundreds of organizations, churches, colleges, high schools and community groups from across the country in this annual observance that has been taking place since 1975," Lytle continued. "This is an effort to educate the public, draw attention to the problem of poverty and build up the base of volunteers and supporters for local anti-poverty agencies. Each year, groups organize and spend the week before Thanksgiving generating publicity about hunger and homelessness and holding a series of events to engage their communities."

"Hunger and Homelessness: A Community Conversation, serves as the mission's theme for this year's observance, and is the title for this event," Lytle said. "Based on the Faces of Homelessness panel, developed by the National Coalition for the Homeless, our event is designed to provide community members with an opportunity to dialogue with individuals who have experienced or who are experiencing homelessness.

Representatives from local agencies who are working to address the issues of hunger and homelessness each day will dialogue as well."

"We chose this format because we realized there are a lot of misconceptions about the homeless population, and hunger and homelessness in general, within our community," Lytle noted.

"As an agency that provides emergency food and shelter services, it is our responsibility to not only create opportunities for the community to better understand these issues, but to provide them with the tools to become a part of the solution," she continued.

"Providing the facts and discussing the truths of these issues, together ensures that community members can advocate for these issues in a way that is factual and empathetic to those who are experiencing hunger and homelessness."

When community members share information about these issues that are not factual or turn a blind eye to these issues, it takes us farther and farther away from reaching out ultimate goal," she exclaimed. "And that is to ensure no one in our community has to worry about whether or not they will have food to eat or have a roof over their head."

Thursday's event will feature a guest panel, including Sandy Wyatt, Urban Mission Ministries' shelter manager, who will be sharing her testimony during the event. Jodi Hardwick, executive director of ALIVE Inc. will serve on the panel, along with the mission's shelter staff, and potentially, current shelter residents, Lytle noted.

Mission staff who will join in at various times include Lytle, and Justin Tolman, warehousing director.

"This event will provide us with an exciting opportunity to recognize local agencies and organizations who are working hard each day to address the issues of hunger and homelessness and to serve the individuals and families who are experiencing hunger and homelessness in our community each day," she concluded.

Following the event's program, community members will be invited to visit stations to learn how they can get involved by hosting an event, volunteering their time or donating to the cause.