Gov. John Hickenlooper is marking Hunger and Homelessness Awareness and Action Week with a call on his fellow Coloradans to work to end the problems and a shout-out to organizations that serve the needy.

In a proclamation Monday, Hickenlooper said hunger and homelessness can be solved. He encouraged Coloradans to “volunteer, donate needed items and support efforts by public leaders to increase affordable housing … and food security with the goal of making homelessness and hunger in our state history in our lifetime.”

He drew attention to the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger released early this year. The plan, developed with funding from the Colorado Health Foundation, emerged from discussions involving scores of state agencies, nonprofits and businesses. Its recommendations include creating marketing campaigns to raise awareness about hunger, increasing the number of stores that accept SNAP federal food aid payments and ensuring more children get healthy meals in and out of school.

The governor’s proclamation also mentioned Close to Home, which is marking Hunger and Homelessness Awareness and Action Week today through Nov. 16 with a campaign to get social media users to post about what they are doing to end homelessness.