Sleep out for the homeless benefits shelters

By Charleston Southern on May 11, 2010 - 11:44 am in Serving / no comments

You’re cold, hungry, and you can’t remember the last time you’ve had a hot shower. You have nothing, and you are completely alone; you don’t even know when your next meal will be. Many of us have no clue what that would be like.

On Nov. 13 students held a Sleep Out for the Homeless. This fundraiser benefited local homeless shelters. Each team was required to find a sponsor and raise money for the event and conduct a nonmonetary drive; that could include a bake sale, a blanket drive, canned food drive, or maybe volunteering in a local shelter.

Audrey Butkus, AmeriCorps Campus Compact director, organized the event.

On the night of the event, students constructed the shelters they would be sleeping in for the night which were then judged in a contest.

Throughout the event, staff planned activities, such as, cooking hotdogs by the fire, hot chocolate, watching the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, playing glow in the dark disc golf, performances, and other fun games. Omar Montes De Oca said, “The reason why I’m doing this is because it’s a good way to give back to the community.”

Trey Alton said, “I was hoping for people to see what is truly necessary for people to live on, for people in South Carolina and all around the world.” One group of freshmen said that they felt it was a good way to get involved and that it was better than just watching a movie in the lounge with friends.

Tags: Americorps Audrey Butkus CSU Sleepout for the Homeless