A food drive, auction, panel discussions, banquet and dance are among the activities, starting Sunday, designed to highlight awareness of hunger and homelessness in the community.

Brenda Kriedeman, social services director for the Salvation Army and chairman of the Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People, outlined the group's plans to heighten public awareness of homelessness.

"Along with Bismarck's growth, the needs are growing, too," she said.

She cited statistics showing that this area has 247 homeless people, the majority of whom are in Bismarck, a number that includes 80 youth age 18 and younger, she said.

The coalition has asked area churches to participate in a weeklong food drive, starting Sunday, to restock the community's six food pantries. All food donations may be delivered to Trinity Lutheran Church, 502 N. Fourth St.

A Stone Soup Community Fest is planned from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Faith Lutheran Church, 1402 E. Ave. C. The festival includes a silent auction and interactive story time; nonperishable food donations are welcome.

Presentations by Mark Heinert and Nancy Kleingartner are planned at 9 a.m. Thursday at the University of Mary. At 10 a.m.,"Personal Stories of Homelessness" will be presented at Heskett Hall, and at 11 a.m., Carrie Grosz will present "Homelessness: Consuming the Lives of Children" in Arno Gustin Hall, both at U-Mary.

A panel discussion starts at noon in Heskett Hall with Tim Schuetzle, N.D. State Penitentiary warden; Mark Heinert, of Youthworks; Lori Johnson-Walker, Ruth Meiers Hospitality House; and Michelle Erickson, Abused Adult Resource Center.

Student volunteers from Students United Against Homelessness will meet at Trinity Lutheran Church for distribution of signs that they will display at various intersections around Bismarck from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday. To volunteer to hold signs representing one of the homeless people in this area, contact Heidi Pratt at 328-8870.

Starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, volunteers will attend the Banquet, a weekly meal, at Trinity. A dance starts at 7 p.m. at the Salvation Army gymnasium, 601 S. Washington St. Those attending are encouraged to bring nonperishable food donations or give a cash donation to attend, though this is not required.

All churches are asked to have their food donations delivered to Trinity Lutheran Church by Thursday.

On Nov. 16, volunteers are needed to sort the food donations at Trinity, which will then be picked up by the community food pantries.