WEST CHESTER — Chester County’s Decade to Doorways, the community-wide plan to prevent and end homelessness in the county, will host four free community events in West Chester, Coatesville, Kennett Square, and Phoenixville from November 13 to 16 as part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
The events include free screenings of popular movies with a central theme of poverty and homelessness, and that feature actors such as Will Smith, Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx, and Maggie Smith. Representatives from Decade to Doorways and the homeless shelters and supportive agencies within the county will be available at the events to provide information on their work to end homelessness within the Chester County community.
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is held the week before Thanksgiving, with the purpose of increasing awareness about issues of poverty nationally, as well as how these issues affect people within local communities. Last year in Chester County, 1,734 people stayed in emergency or transitional shelter.
Lauren Campbell, Administrator of Decade to Doorways, said: “By educating the community about the homelessness that occurs right here in Chester County, we hope to inspire compassion for our neighbors who might be experiencing homelessness, as well as spark an interest in volunteering at or donating to the charitable organizations that are working hard to assist those living in poverty.”
The week’s activities kick off with a film on Monday, November 13 at 7:00 pm at West Chester East High School, followed by a 7:00 pm screening on November 14 at Gordon Early Literacy Center in Coatesville. On Wednesday, November 15th, a screening will be held at Unionville High School, and on Thursday, November 16 there will be a 7:30 pm screening of Lady in the Van at The Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville. Admittance to each event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will also be available for purchase at certain locations.
For more information on the free movie nights and to reserve tickets, go to www.decadetodoorways.org/movie-night.
