Hunger, Homeless Awareness Week proclaimed

Laguna Beach will again be part of national Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week.

The City Council issued a proclamation at the April 20 meeting designating Nov. 1 to 7 National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week in Laguna Beach, and it will contribute $500 toward the printing costs of the week’s activities.

Activities will be sponsored by the city’s Housing and Human Services Committee and organized by the Relief and Resource Center. Events will include a weeklong food drive, with the goal of doubling last year’s 25,000 pounds of donations and the “Hunger Bowl.”

The purpose of National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week is to bring attention to the reasons people are homeless and to promote an end to hunger and homelessness, committee member and event Chairwoman Faye Chapman said.

“Together, we can change lives” is her motto.

Chapman came up with the idea of the Hunger Bowl. Community members and visitors will be invited to create soup bowls at a special booth at the Sawdust Festival and perhaps other venues.

Bowls may be purchased by people who paint them or donated as door prizes for the Hunger Bowl.

Celebrities will be asked to autograph and include inspirational messages on bowls made by professional artists.

The Hunger Bowl will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Neighborhood Congregational Church and will include the Outsider Art Show and musical entertainment by homeless people.

“Soup and Fixin’s” will be prepared by Mark’s, Sundried Tomato, hush, Stalker’s Fine Foods, K’ya and Nick’s.

Hunger Bowl tickets will be $45 and include six soup tastes, a soft drink, dessert and one of the special bowls.

A silent auction will include the celebrity bowls.

Sponsorships will be welcomed; names of donors will be publicized.

For more information, to purchase tickets, donate a bowl or volunteer, call Chapman at (949) 280-2885.