Habitat chapter to ‘sleep out’ to address homelessness
The student chapter of Habitat for Humanity at Waynesburg College will begin the academic year Wednesday by hosting the annual fall Habitat for Humanity luncheon and participating in a cardboard box sleep-out in order to raise awareness of homelessness. The luncheon, open to the public, will be held at noon in the Stover Campus Center, third floor conference rooms. Tickets will be sold only in advance for $5. Individuals interested in attending should call 724-852-3315. The luncheon theme is “Civic Leaders Under Construction.”
The sleep-out, often referred to as “Shantyville,” will begin at 5 p.m. in the Johnson Commons, the area directly behind Miller Hall. This is the fourth year students will participate in a sleep-out, which lasts until 7 a.m. Thursday.
Shantyville was designed to educate people about the need to eliminate substandard housing and to make people aware of homelessness, not only around the world but also in Greene County.
“Our goal is to raise awareness, educate, and influence people to help make a change either by volunteering for Habitat or making a donation to support the work we do,” said Patricia Roth, student chapter advisor for Habitat for Humanity and associate dean for student services at Waynesburg College. “These students work throughout the year in helping to make a difference in people’s lives by making an often longtime dream of home ownership a reality.”
Local businesses or individuals interested in sponsoring a student for $25 for Shantyville should call Roth at 724-852-3315.
The community also is encouraged to visit Shantyville to talk with the students Wednesday. Money raised at the luncheon and during the sleep-out will benefit projects such as the Collegiate Challenge, in which the student chapter of Habitat teams up with another Habitat chapter to build homes during spring break.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization. Habitat builds houses in partnership with those in need of adequate shelter.
For more information on Habitat, call 724-852-3315 or 724-852-2598 or log on to www.habitat.org.