Poverty Awareness Week focused on educating students and staff on how poverty can affect us all. A series of events through the week helped pinpoint certain aspects of poverty. “The Backpack Program serves more than 600 students at numerous elementary, middle, and high schools in Tacoma and Lakewood. The Backpack Program provides needy kids with backpacks filled with two days’ worth of food each weekend of the school year. Over 60% of students in Lakewood schools depend on the free and reduced lunch program during the school week. This program offers children nutritious meals for the weekend as well.” per the community partnership document. Students, staff and faculty lined up during their lunch hour and helped pack up around 200 backpacks for the children. Becky Anderson is the main point of contact for this project if you want to know how to volunteer or help in some way. On Tuesday, Living Voices performed a moving dramatization of the Dust Bowl Era “Journey From the Dust.” The story follows Mark Dobson in the panhandle of Oklahoma in 1929 through the Dust Bowl as he travels to California and Seattle. A Hunger Banquet, based off the OXFAM program, was held in the HEC building. As people walked in, they were given three random colored cards representing low, middle, and high income. Low income sat on the floor and ate only rice from a bowl with their hands. The middle income was able to eat rice and beans with a fork at a table. The higher income was served a pasta meal with fresh water, bread, and juice. There was a slight hesitation to start eating at the higher income table as they seen how the others were eating. “It was an eye opener to see how different each income level has it. I am very blessed to be where I am in life and I want to help out more.” said Nataley Guajardo, Student Government President. The last event concluded with a panel of community leaders from Lakewood and Pierce College. Discussion included trying to get help to the individuals in need around the area and how to improve the community. “Throwing money at the problem won’t solve it. It may help, but education and assistance is needed to solve the poverty problem in Lakewood.” Leah LIvingston, Program Manager of Communities in Schools of Lakewood. Overall the events were successful in helping out the community; children fed, learning a better understanding of poverty, and involvement of local community leaders.