In honor of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week, NEIU group Leaders Emerging and Developing (L.E.A.D.) organized for NEIU to become active for the fight for change. Through a week-long series of events and activities, students and staff members worked to raise money and understanding for the hungry and the homeless. Monday Nov. 16 began the initiative, sponsored by United Greek Council, to provide a holiday dinner to families who might not otherwise have been able to afford a Thanksgiving dinner. Students, staff, classes and organizations were asked to sponsor a family for the holiday. Each 40 dollar amount, which was collected both by the Student Activities office and a table in the Village Square, would provide an entire Thanksgiving meal for a family. In conjunction with this event, the Ronald Williams Library offered its own hand in the battle against hunger. The library collected food for the Greater Chicago Food Depository and offered students and staff debt forgiveness in exchange for canned good donations. A five dollar debt waiver was given to anyone who brought three cans or boxes of food to the library on Monday or Tuesday. The debt forgiveness project only covered fines owed as late fees and did not include lost items.
On Tuesday Nov. 17, the Assistant Director of Student Activities, Veronica E. Rodriguez accompanied NEIU students in a sleep out that took place in front of the PE Complex. The sleep out, attended by several representatives of NEIU sororities, student groups and the general student body, was meant to simulate the experience of what it is to be homeless.
The eight hour event ran from 10pm on Tuesday and ran until 6am on Wednesday morning. Participants were asked to only bring cardboard to sleep on and plastic and blankets for warmth. Before participants called it a night, Rodriguez led a discussion on what it means to be homeless and the importance of raising awareness about the issue.
The sleep out group sat in a circle amidst the chilly air of the night discussing potential reasons for homelessness, types of homelessness, the treatment of homeless individuals by the general population, the importance of providing resources for individuals and families without homes.
Approximately 14 students and staff members, including seniors Yoab Abundis, Kelly Murphy, Jesse Foresto and juniors Rachel Stein, Matt Groters, Cheryl Devenny and Kelly Bales, braved a night of chilly temperatures and rainy weather to show support for the cause and raise awareness within the NEIU community.
Also in attendance were sophomores Aiden Cassidy, an International Student from Austrailia working on a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, sophomore Richard Jones and Senior Diana Rodriguez for whom the event hit a bit closer to home.
“This week is big for me because, when I was about 14, a cousin of mine and I had an experience with homelessness,” declared Rodriguez. “Although it was only for a short time, we still struggled with having a place to go and food to eat. Fortunately, I was able to go home after a while, but I think it’s important to draw a focus to those who can’t.”
Veronica Rodriguez, who stayed awake to make sure that participants were safe during the night, was inspired to organize the sleep-out by a Loyola University group that has been hosting events in honor of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week for several years.
Although this was the first year of the Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week activities at NEIU, the event was received so well that there are plans to make this an annual project at the NEIU campus.