For students, topics of homelessness and hunger will be food for thought during the University’s observance of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week from Nov. 16 to 22.
Kitchens on the Geaux, a University organization that works year-round to increase the awareness of food insecurity within the Baton Rouge community, is sponsoring the week’s events.
KOTG collects donations and sends leftover food items to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank from the Lod Cook Alumni Center, businesses like Chipotle Mexican Grill and LSU Dining. 
During NHHA Week, the organization will be sponsoring sock and toiletry drives in conjunction with Baton Rouge Parents Magazine, round table discussions about hunger and homelessness, a Hunger Banquet and volunteering opportunities at GBRFB and St. Vincent de Paul.
Sociology sophomore Sarah Corie, programs director for KOTG, coordinated the week’s events. She said this year’s celebration of NHHA Week will be similar to previous years’ celebrations — only the schedule of events will change.
“We will have service opportunities and educational events for students, LSU community members and the general public,” Corie said. “Following tradition, we will kick off the week by forking the Parade Ground to bring attention to the fact that there are approximately 5,000 homeless people in Louisiana this year.”
Corie said the Hunger Banquet, which will be held on Nov. 19, is typically the organization’s biggest event. She said KOTG expects more than 100 participants to attend, as it did last year.
Mike Manning, president of the GBRFB — which is experiencing a 5-year low in food supply — will serve as the banquet’s keynote speaker. 
Corie said KOTG members created many of the events, like the workshops and the collaboration with Louisiana Delta Service Corps and two local community gardens.
“There are always new and unique ways to get involved and give back to those in need, and we do our best to keep up with the times,” Corie said.
Nutrition and food sciences freshman Matt Cheramie hopes to become involved in KOTG’s various community service opportunities. He said he’s most looking forward to the Hunger Banquet.
“It’s important for the University to celebrate this week because it allows students to realize how lucky we are and gives us the opportunity to reach out to those in need,” Cheramie said. “This would be a great week to make a difference in someone’s life and live out LSU’s goal to serve in their ‘Commitment to Community.’”
Corie said the reason KOTG and the University celebrate NHHA Week is to bring awareness to the problems that exist in the Baton Rouge community and to drive people to serve that community. 
“When there is a surplus of food in this country and an abundance of empty homes throughout the nation’s neighborhoods, there is no ethical reason for hunger and homelessness to exist,” Corie said. “And we, as students in Kitchens on the Geaux, realize this and believe our fellow students at LSU would readily agree.”
Corie said she realizes finding a cure-all for the problems hunger and homelessness pose may be difficult for a student body to accomplish; however, there are many opportunities for it to make small contributions,   especially between Nov. 16 to 22.
Corie hopes each of the service opportunities and the Hunger Banquet will bring in an abundance of volunteers and attendees, and not just those from the University.
Corie encourages anyone in the community who is passionate about the two causes to attend weekly KOTG meetings and visit its TigerLink, Facebook and Twitter pages for more information regarding the events.
“[KOTG] created opportunities for all of campus to both volunteer and learn more about hunger and homelessness,” Corie said. “I hope that this week shows people that, even if you can’t literally see hunger and homelessness around you, they very much exist and they very much need your attention and dedication to reduce them — so go serve, LSU.”