Students at UBCO are taking part in a nationwide awareness campaign called 5 days For The Homeless. At varying times during the month of March students at close to a dozen Canadian universities and colleges will sleep outdoors for a period of 5 days.
UBCO students started their campaign on Sunday, March 18th with a pancake breakfast kick-off. Then they set up camp under an overhang at the University Centre at the Kelowna campus. "We have cardboard that blocks the wind for us, propped up against the tables, but really, all we have is our sleeping bags, pillows and the clothes on our backs," said Victoria Kray, a Business Administration student.
Kray also took part in the event last year and said the impact can be startling for people walking by. "The awareness that it brings to the issue directly hits students in the face. They're confronted with it as they're going somewhere or they're eating dinner each night." And some of the fellow students react negatively. "Last year there were students that would cross the street to avoid us."
All the funds raised, along with non-perishables and clothing(clothing drive runs Tuesday 9a-3p) will be going to H.O.P.E. Outreach, which provides night time safety for homeless and/or sexually exploited women in Kelowna. The group of students has a goal of $2000 but is hoping to get closer to the $3500 mark.
They will take cash donations at their camp(outside University Centre), they also have debit, and, you can donate HERE.