MARQUETTE — With National Homelessness Awareness Week running through Sunday, locals have come together in an effort to inspire community awareness and action by developing a list of “Daily Do Goods” that area residents can take part in on each day of the week, starting today.

“Because of the growing homeless population, and just the need to move beyond awareness (and start) taking action and building solutions, I tried to put a lot of effort into raising awareness and getting the community out and involved,” said Kim Crane-Frost, co-coordinator of the local Homelessness Awareness Week activities.

Local “Daily Do Goods” for National Homelessness Awareness Week:

≤ Today: The public can “Learn at the Library” by visiting a display at the Peter White Public Library in Marquette that outlines facts about homelessness, as well as information on how to get involved and service provider materials, organizers said. The display will remain up through the week.

≤ Tuesday: Area residents can participate in “Take Time Tuesday,” which encourages people to gain a better understanding of homelessness through a variety of resources.

Some recommended resources on the web are: endhomelessness.org, www.themicahhouse.org, as well as www.invisiblepeople.tv. Recommended reading includes: “Tell Them Who I Am,” “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,” “Out of Poverty,” “Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness” and “Rachel and Her Children,” organizers said.

≤ Wednesday: The community is encouraged to “put those extra and unused coats, snow pants, gloves, hats and scarves to good use keeping people warm and dry this winter,” organizers said. Donations will be accepted at the Room at the Inn Warming Center, located at 447 W. Washington St., Marquette, and Lutheran Social Services, at 1029 N. Third St., Marquette.

≤ Thursday: Interested parties can donate requested and high-need pantry items for the Janzen House, the Warming Center, Lutheran Social Services’ Welcome Home program and the Women’s Center. Some of the most needed items are portable snack foods, toilet paper, tissues, paper towels and staple foods such as peanut butter, jelly and coffee, organizers said.

≤ Friday: Organizers encourage people to donate new and used backpacks and rope sacks at Lutheran Social Services for distribution to the local shelter programs because these items are “critical for people who are homeless.” A collection box will be on the front steps of the Lutheran Social Services office all week, organizers said.

≤ Saturday: Service clubs, youth organizations, business groups and others are encouraged to sign up to provide a dinner at the Warming Center in the upcoming months, as the Warming Center is currently providing nightly dinners to people who are homeless and/or experiencing food scarcity, organizers said. Call the Warming Center at 906-225-1521 to sign up or for more information.

≤ Sunday: Organizers said they give thanks on this day to people who have donated their “time, money, treasures and talents to improve the lives of those experiencing homelessness.”

Cecilia Brown can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248.