Wow, what a busy week trying to prepare for Thanksgiving for the homeless here in Williamsburg! But, the upcoming week will be even busier as National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week is upon us (Nov. 12th-18th). I am just thankful that I have a home and food, but as an advocate for the homeless I must say my concerns and heart are with them. While the majority of us sleep peacefully in our beds at night, there are over 50 people that are forced to adjust their bodies in a car to sleep (only running the vehicle for a short time for warmth in fear of running out of gas), sleep hundled in a tent (hat is not seasonally adaquate) in the woods, sleep on the hard ground under the By-Pass bridge or even worse, wonder the streets all night.

Want to find out more about the homeless in Williamsburg? Or how can you as one person can make a difference in their life? I, as a local homeless advocate that works with the homeles one on one for a better way of life, have joined forces with several groups at W&M. One of the biggest ways you can help is to participate in the National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week that is sponsored by many of these groups.

We kick off the week Sun. Nov. 12th with a "Homeless Reality Tour". We meet at the Alumni Building parking lot at Noon and I take you throughout Williamsburg on a historical tour and at the end we go 'dumpster diving'. But if you can't make it at the first tour, don't worry because we do it all over again at 3:00PM. The cost is $5.00 per student and all monies goes to our Thanksgiving Day meals.

Mon. Nov. 13th, my hairdresser will be at the Meridian from 10:00AM til 4:00PM for our "Haircuts for the Homeless" fundraiser. Haircuts are $15.00 and what a way to help support the homeless and look good when you go home for Thanksgiving break!

Want to lose a few pounds befor Thanksgiving break? Come run with us! At 10:00AM we start the day off with a 5k run. Registration is $10.00.

Want to learn directly how you can help? Then why not ask the experts? THE HOMELESS! Sat. Nov. 18th we are doing our 4th "Homeless Panel" in Blair 229 at 4:00PM. Come hear their stories, ask questions and find out why I hold a special place for them in my heart.

So please join us in our efforts to make a difference in a person's life. Help us give hope to those in a town that deny they have no homeless. For more information, email wsmburghomeless@yahoo.com or hunger@wm.edu