Purdue students sleep outdoors to help homeless
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Several students from Purdue University residence halls spent a night sleeping outside to highlight National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week.Ryan O'Neill of Schererville, Ind., Brandon Patterson of Chesterson, Ind., and Jacob Hazelbecker, a sophomore from Bloomfield, Ind., studying electrical engineering, were among the students who huddled under blankets and in boxes to ward off cold and rain on Nov. 16.
"When you realize how hard some people have it, it makes you grateful for what you have — someplace warm and dry," said O'Neill, a senior majoring in organizational leadership and supervision.
The students lined the sidewalk adjacent to their campsite with educational placards displaying statistics and facts related to hunger and homelessness.
"It's important that all students know that homelessness is a problem throughout Indiana," said Patterson, a freshman in the undergraduate studies program.
The campers collected several crates of nonperishable foods that were donated by other Purdue students. The food was taken to a local food pantry.
During the 24-hour experience students were allowed to bring only what a homeless person would be expected to possess. Cell phones were forbidden, and the only food and drink campers consumed was what was given to them by students passing by.
The event was organized by Sarah Casares and Ellie Meyer, the residential life managers at Owen Hall and Hilltop Apartments, respectively, as part of their mission to engage students in community service.
Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu
Sources: Sarah Casares, (765) 494-2396, scasares@purdue.edu
Ryan O'Neill, (765) 494-7187
Brandon Patterson, (765) 495-1811, bspatter@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Related Web site:Purdue University Residences: http://www.housing.purdue.edu
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