Bowling Green: Students Sleep Out for a Good Cause
This past Thursday evening in Bowling Green, students gathered on the South Lawn of Western Kentucky University for the annual “Sleep Out for the Homeless” event run by the Epsilon Theta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma. This historically African American fraternity aims to raise awareness about homelessness while collecting donations for local shelters.
A Night for Awareness
As students set up tents and prepared for a night of activities, Yhon Bazira, the sophomore Director of Social Action and event coordinator, introduced several guest speakers. These speakers shared personal stories related to homelessness and provided information about resources available to help those in need in Bowling Green.
Community Engagement
Carlos Bailey, a Bowling Green city commissioner, spoke about the root causes of homelessness. He urged the youth in attendance to band together and make efforts to combat this pressing issue. “We live in a world where many people are just one unexpected event from being homeless,” Bailey noted. He encouraged activities such as volunteering, raising awareness, and donating to charities, emphasizing that “you can make a difference.”
In a similar vein, Amelia Kolb, the Assistant Director of Student Activities, spoke about the struggles that students face on campus regarding shelter. “WKU receives an influx of calls for students who have no home to return to during breaks,” Kolb stated, highlighting the challenges staff faces in finding housing for these individuals.
Supportive Initiatives
Various local organizations set up stands and handed out business cards to students interested in volunteering or learning more about homelessness in the community. Beth Wheeler, co-chair of House On the Hill, emphasized the need for stable housing. She mentioned the correlation between housing security and overall well-being, stating, “It’s been proven that having stable, reliable, attainable housing is a key to thriving as a human being.”
Wheeler also shared exciting news about long-term plans to combat homelessness in the area. “We are working on getting funding through grants and private donors to purchase 14.3 acres here in Warren County, where we will build a hundred single-family affordable housing homes,” she said, explaining that the goal is to create a real sense of community, not just houses.
Making a Difference
The members of Phi Beta Sigma gathered donations of canned goods, non-perishable items, and hygiene products to distribute to local shelters. One participant, Kamari Mozee, a sophomore dental hygiene major, expressed her motivation for attending the event. “This is my second year coming here, and I came back because it’s for a good cause; I want to give back to the community in any way I can,” she said.
A Look to the Future
After the speakers and activities wrapped up, students settled into their tents for the night. Javeon Manning, the President of Phi Beta Sigma and a senior sports management major, reflected on the growth of the event since its inception in Fall 2021. He expressed optimism for its future, saying, “Homelessness can happen to anybody, so by any means, we’re going to do what’s necessary to decrease the issue in Bowling Green.”
Manning concluded, “We’re at the age where we can still develop and learn, so it’s always good to pick up on what we can do to help people while we’re here.”
As dawn approached, students began to pack up, united in their commitment to raising awareness and making a small difference in their community. They all left with a renewed sense of purpose and a strong desire to help those who need it most.
