U of M students are raising funds and awareness for a local charity by sleeping outside University Centre for five days. // Photo by Mike Latschislaw
Students sleep outside for local charity
For the seventh consecutive year, six University of Manitoba students will sleep outside for five nights to raise awareness and donations for Resource Assistance for Youth, Inc. (RaY), a local charity.
Four Asper School of Business students, and two Faculty of Arts students, will join 26 Canadian universities in the national 5 Days for the Homeless campaign, which began March 15th.
Students Dale Camuyong, Deanna Mirlycourtois, Al Turnbull, Alannah Matte, Riaz Mahmood, and Karli Kirkpatrick (read their bios here) will forgo the comforts of their homes to live outside on the University of Manitoba campus for five nights, while still fulfilling their duties as students. They will not be able to shower or purchase any meals, and must fulfill all their regular student duties as the campaign attempts to raise this year’s goal of $20,000.
Media and guests are invited to visit the homeless students at their shelter on the east side of University Centre as well as attend Closing Ceremonies on March 20th at 5p.m. in the Drake Centre (181 Freedman Crescent).
There are several fundraising events taking place to help reach the University of Manitoba’s campaign goal of $20,000. Campaign events include:
- “5 Acts for the Homeless” at the Hub on Thursday, March 19 (tickets available in the Drake Center for $10)
- Silent Auction (March 16-20 in Drake Center)
- Bake Sale (March 16 in the Drake Center and University Center)
- Luck of the Irish draws (March 17 in the Drake Center)
- Food sale (March 18 in the Drake Center)
- Food sale (March 19 in the Drake Center)
- Volunteer / Donor Appreciation (March 20 in the Drake Center and University Center)
5 Days for The Homeless was founded as a local initiative by University of Alberta School of Business students. This initiative, after running very successfully for a number of years on the Edmonton campus at the University of Alberta, was taken national in 2008. To date, the campaign has raised over $1,212,000 for charitable organizations across the country and has spread its message from coast to coast.
U of M students are trying to raise $20,000 for the 2015 campaign. // Photo by Mike Latchislaw
About RaY
Resource Assistance for Youth, Inc. (RaY) is a non-profit street-level agency working with street-entrenched and homeless youth up to the age of 29. RaY is non-judgmental and non-partisan, employing a harm reduction approach to all interactions with youth in need.
Sponsors
The 5 Days for the Homeless campaign in Winnipeg is fuelled by its supporters: Birchwood Automotive Group, Downtown Winnipeg Biz, the University of Manitoba, and the Asper School of Business.