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12^th Annual Hunger and Homelessness Auction Draws a Crowd and Raises Money to Fight Hunger and Homelessness in New Haven

The 12^th Annual Hunger and Homelessness Auction was held on November 18 in Harkness ballroom. A crowd of students and faculty members was on hand to bid on the extensive list of items donated by local businesses, faculty, staff and students.

Potential bidders examine available items at the November 18 Hunger and Homelessness Auction. The proceeds from this year's auction, put on by the School of Medicine, the School of Public Health, the School of Nursing and the Yale Physician Associate Program, will be donated to local non-profit organizations which work to alleviate hunger and homelessness in the Greater New Haven area.

Students from Yale's health professional schools (the School of Public Health, the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing and the Yale Physician Associate Program) worked together to put on the week-long series of events that culminated in the live auction. The proceeds of this year's auction, which will be at least $26,000, will go to the following local non-profit organizations, which work to alleviate hunger and homelessness: AIDS Project New Haven — Caring Cuisine, Christian Community Action, Community Soup Kitchen, Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven, FISH, Loaves and Fishes, Youth Continuum, The Community Health Care Van, and Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen.

“All who have been involved with the Hunger and Homelessness Auction this year have worked incredibly hard to make it a success. Countless hours have been spent organizing the event, securing donations, and making sure everything ran smoothly,” said Karen Cheung, Auction Co-Chair and second year MPH student.

Items auctioned included, among other things, stays in vacation homes in London, Aruba, and Block Island, a variety of music and sporting lessons, homemade foods and meals, and a variety of eclectic items such as a photo and pair of scrubs autographed by Goran Visnjic, the actor who plays Dr. Luka Kovac on ER.

In addition to Cheung, EPH students Nadia Abuzaineh, Ming Cheung, Anika Hines, Erica Jackson, Onpracha Jiwajinda, David Stuckler and Nicholas Torsiello volunteered their services to make the auction a success.

Relevant speakers, a flag football game, Yale AIDS Day, a benefit party, a “Ramadaan Fast-A-Thon,” a silent auction and a community service day also contributed to a week that was both fun and serious as it raised awareness of and combated hunger and homelessness in the New Haven area.

“As public health students,” noted Cheung, “we're so busy studying or writing papers that we often lose sight of why we're here. Public health is about preventing disease and promoting the health of a population, all the while empowering them. Engaging with the community through outreach efforts and volunteer work is a great way to help us remember that.”

-Story by Christy Gordon.