Hunger Has a Sound

Poverty isn’t always visible, but sometimes it’s audible.

It sounds like a child asking for “just one more snack” at school because it’s the only food they’ll get that day. It’s the hollow scrape of a fork on an empty plate. It’s the quiet “No, thank you” when someone’s too proud to ask for help.

At our place, the silence is loud. There’s hesitation before people step inside, often followed by grateful sighs when they’re greeted with kindness. There’s the hum of volunteers shelving recently donated food, and cooking lunch, and sometimes, there’s laughter (fragile but real) because even in struggle, humanity shines through.

We listen to these sounds, because they tell us where to act. At Friendship House, we’re not just feeding people, we’re hearing them.

You can help too: lend your ears, your voice, or your hands. Because listening is the first step to healing.