Lifestyle

Austin Woman Hands Out 250 Sack Lunches to the Homeless

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Instead of collecting presents for her 24th birthday, Jessica Hunek raised $700 to make 250 sack lunches for the homeless in Austin. “They are in an odd way my neighbors,” Hunek told KXAN. “I kind of wanna get to know them now and just make a small dent in someone’s life.”

Hunek along with her big sister and a couple of students she mentors went walking around the downtown area where Hunek lives to had out the fresh sandwiches, pretzels, breakfast bar, and fruit.  “I thought it was wonderful! I thought it was a beautiful gesture and the sandwich was great… a blessing,” said Jeana Tibb who received a bag.

While Austin has grown, the lines outside of shelters have as well. Fox 7 reported earlier this year that Austin’s homeless population has seen at least a 20 percent increase from last year, and “homeless service providers believe there are actually about 7,000 homeless individuals in our community.”

Hunek didn’t use all $700 on the sack lunches, so she donated the rest of the money to a local organization called Mission Possible where she volunteers. She felt humbled by her experience and hopes to reach out to her neighbors again soon.