Owens and BGSU Students to Raise Homeless Awareness
PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Owens Community College and Bowling Green State University students will spend a night under the stars to raise homeless awareness as part of Owens’ sixth annual Sleep Out for the Homeless Tent City on Thursday, April 7.
Beginning at 4 p.m., Owens and Bowling Green students will spend 17 consecutive hours camping out on the College’s courtyard lawn between Health Technologies Hall and College Hall on the Toledo-area Campus. The goal of the sleep out is to make more people aware of homelessness occurring in the surrounding communities and to collect basic “snack food” items to benefit Rainbow Area Youth in Toledo. The event will conclude at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 8.
“Homelessness does not discriminate and can happen to anyone at anytime,” said Nicole Lance, Owens Student Activities Assistant and Raising Awareness Club Advisor and Bowling Green student. “The Sleep Out for the Homeless Tent City project allows individuals to experience what it’s like to be homeless. One group in which homelessness is extremely prevalent is within gay and lesbian youth. I encourage area residents to help in the fight against homelessness by making a donation to benefit the Rainbow Area Youth organization.”
Owens students and employees and community members are encouraged to show their support by dropping off basic “snack food” items. Desired items include chips, crackers, animal crackers, popcorn, pretzels, Pop-Tarts, granola bars, water, pop and juices boxes, as well as plastic utensils and paper/plastic cups and plates. Donations can be dropped off on the College’s courtyard lawn between Health Technologies Hall and College Hall during the Sleep Out for the Homeless Tent City event.
Rainbow Area Youth (RAY) is a peer based support group created to provide emotional support, social opportunities and health education to sexual minority teens in the Toledo area. The organization’s goal is to help prevent the spread of HIV and reduce the rate of self-destructive behaviors, including self-mutilation, drug abuse and suicide in the gay youth population, and to provide a positive environment for personal growth.
Owens’ Sleep Out for the Homeless Tent City event is being coordinated by the College’s Raising Awareness Club and the Gay-Straight Alliance Club. For more information about the event, including donation information, call (567) 661-2569 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 2569.
Press Release Contact Name: Brad Meyer
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Organization Name: Owens Community College