Living outside Concordia's Hall Building on Maisonneuve from 5:00 p.m. last Sunday until 5:00 p.m. Friday, Brian Chungwing, Adam Gold and Josh Redler of Concordia's John Molson School of Business tried to raise money and awareness for the homeless last week as part of Five Days for the Homeless. The campaign went national this year after a three-year run at the University of Alberta.
"It's a great cause. I don't mind sleeping outside for five days," Redler said.
According to Five Days for the Homeless National Chair James Matsuba, the campaign's initial goals were a meagre $500. However, much more money was raised and the campaign has grown every year, raising $5,031 in 2006 and $25,356 in 2007. This year's national campaign has raised over $116,000.
"Over August, I was able to fly out to Ottawa and attend the East Coast Leadership Retreat," said Matsuba, a University of Alberta student. "That's where I first met [Chungwing] and Gold."
In addition to Concordia and Alberta, over 40 students from the University of British Columbia, Brock University, University of Guelph, University of Lethbridge, McMaster University, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Saskatchewan and Wilfrid Laurier University also participated this year.
The campaign's rules are relatively simple: participants have no pocket money, can only receive donated food, have no access to shower facilities and must remain outside except when attending class or extracurricular activities. Students are only let inside if temperatures become low enough to endanger their health.
"[All the food] we get has to be donated… but I eat better here than I do at home," Redler said, citing friends and supporters who constantly brought food and drinks to participating students.
Although Redler was fortunate enough not to have class, Chungwing and Gold still had to attend all of theirs.
"That was the toughest thing to do. Every single class I passed out and fell asleep. In class you feel safe, you're not worried someone's gonna come steal your shoes," Chungwing said with a chuckle.
2008 Woodie Awards
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