Business students experience homeless life
Tim Stacey
Issue date: 3/16/10 Section: News
For the duration of this week, March 15-19, a special fundraiser will be taking place right here on campus.
Known as 5 Days, the fundraiser will involve a group of students spending five days and nights outside on the walkway by Taro Hall in efforts to raise money and awareness for the homeless population.
This local effort is only a small part of a national initiative, in which hundreds of students at various universities all over the country will give up their shelter to help out those in need.
The fundraiser began in 2005, at the University of Alberta, and this is the third year that it will take place at Brock University on behalf of the Business Students Association (BSA).
The participating students - Steven Bonomo, Abe Warraich, Charles Munroe, Nick Ward and Dave Poirier - will be following strict rules during the term of the fundraiser. They must stay on campus, attend all their classes and can only use washrooms in public buildings when they are open. The only possessions the students will be allowed are a pillow and sleeping bag.
Furthermore, the students will have to rely on donations for food and water. All non-perishable items and monetary donations will go towards Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold.
When asked in an interview why they had chosen to take part in this fundraiser, participants Warriach and Munroe had two different, yet equally valid reasons.
"For me it's about pushing my limits, and changing my perspective towards the things we take for granted everyday, like food and shelter," said Warriach.
"I'm interested in experiencing how humans would survive without all the comforts they have today" said Munroe. "I've always imagined what it would be like to try to survive in the 1800's, and I figure this is as close as I could get."
Since its creation in 2005, 5 Days for the Homeless has raised over $335,000 in donations that have been put to use by charities all over the country. As impressive as this is, there is still work to be done.
According to the annual Raising the Roof report released in 2009, there are over 150,000 homeless people in Canada. 65,000 of those are youth. It is fundraisers like these that will help put roofs over their heads.
Bonomo, a veteran of the fundraiser as well a participant this year said that his experience in last year's event taught him a lot about the psychological side of being homeless.
"There are a lot of social factors that come into play: people treat you differently just because you're homeless" said Bonomo. "Because I come from an upper class life, the experience really caused me to value things differently."
Participants also encourage other students to experience the fundraiser by camping out for a single night with the full time participants.
For more information on 5 Days, visit 5days.ca, or contact Courtney Craig at directoradmin@brockbsa.com.
Known as 5 Days, the fundraiser will involve a group of students spending five days and nights outside on the walkway by Taro Hall in efforts to raise money and awareness for the homeless population.
This local effort is only a small part of a national initiative, in which hundreds of students at various universities all over the country will give up their shelter to help out those in need.
The fundraiser began in 2005, at the University of Alberta, and this is the third year that it will take place at Brock University on behalf of the Business Students Association (BSA).
The participating students - Steven Bonomo, Abe Warraich, Charles Munroe, Nick Ward and Dave Poirier - will be following strict rules during the term of the fundraiser. They must stay on campus, attend all their classes and can only use washrooms in public buildings when they are open. The only possessions the students will be allowed are a pillow and sleeping bag.
Furthermore, the students will have to rely on donations for food and water. All non-perishable items and monetary donations will go towards Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold.
When asked in an interview why they had chosen to take part in this fundraiser, participants Warriach and Munroe had two different, yet equally valid reasons.
"For me it's about pushing my limits, and changing my perspective towards the things we take for granted everyday, like food and shelter," said Warriach.
"I'm interested in experiencing how humans would survive without all the comforts they have today" said Munroe. "I've always imagined what it would be like to try to survive in the 1800's, and I figure this is as close as I could get."
Since its creation in 2005, 5 Days for the Homeless has raised over $335,000 in donations that have been put to use by charities all over the country. As impressive as this is, there is still work to be done.
According to the annual Raising the Roof report released in 2009, there are over 150,000 homeless people in Canada. 65,000 of those are youth. It is fundraisers like these that will help put roofs over their heads.
Bonomo, a veteran of the fundraiser as well a participant this year said that his experience in last year's event taught him a lot about the psychological side of being homeless.
"There are a lot of social factors that come into play: people treat you differently just because you're homeless" said Bonomo. "Because I come from an upper class life, the experience really caused me to value things differently."
Participants also encourage other students to experience the fundraiser by camping out for a single night with the full time participants.
For more information on 5 Days, visit 5days.ca, or contact Courtney Craig at directoradmin@brockbsa.com.
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