Several University organizations held the second annual Hunger Banquet last night, seeking to provide knowledge about the state of hunger and homelessness both locally and worldwide.
Sponsored by organizations including the Interfaith Social Action Coalition, the banquet allowed nearly 200 students the opportunity to learn how they can become involved in fighting poverty within Charlottesville.
Upon arriving, the students were given name tags assigning them to three different social classes.
Each class was given a different meal based on their socio-economic standing. A small number of students were served chicken and potato dinners, representing the upper class, while the majority of students, representing the poorest class, were given a cup of rice.
Along with the dinner, which was based on actual percentages, students heard from George Siletti, a spokesman from the National Coalition for the Homeless.
Siletti gave his story about surviving homelessness since the age of 16 and struggling with working a minimum wage job.
"The money you would get at the end of the day just wasn't enough to survive with," said Siletti.
Siletti also articulated the difficulty of working alongside high school graduates, while being homeless.
"The only thing I could discuss was homelessness, because that was all I know, and how was I supposed to talk about it with someone who barely knew it existed?" said Siletti.
Siletti said he thinks awareness about poverty within the U.S. is important because "hunger is only a paycheck away."
The organizations behind the banquet are hoping the knowledge the students were provided with there shapes the actions they take against poverty, according to Kevin Simowitz, co-president of the Inter Faith Social Action Coalition.
"I think this is important as a first step," said Simowitz. "Some people are going to walk out a little guilty, but you can't give away your privilege. If they do something with that privilege though, that is what is important."
Students are able to get involved directly with Charlottesville's homeless through PACEM and Compass, two local homeless shelters, according to Simowitz.
Mayor David Brown, who attended the event, said he liked university students' desire to take action against poverty within the community.
"I find it positive to see students thinking beyond their career, their classes, their schedule, and thinking about something bigger," said Brown.
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