Eight students from Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business spent five nights sleeping outside in the cold to raise money for and awareness about homeless youth.
The students, who are members of the Sprott Business Students’ Society (SBSS) lived outside the Unicentre from Sunday, March 10 at 5 p.m. until Friday, March 16 at 5 p.m., sleeping huddled together under a tarp beside the main entrance.
The students collected donations and raised more than $8,000 for Operation Come Home, a local support centre for homeless and at-risk youth. They were participating in the national “5 Days for the Homeless” campaign, along with more than 20 other universities across Canada.
The homeless charity was founded by students at the University of Alberta’s School of Business in 2005. Three students gave up creature comforts and basic necessities for five days to raise money and awareness for Edmonton’s Youth Emergency Shelter Society.
The initiative went national three years later, and over the years it has raised more than $2 million.
Students who participate are expected to remain on campus for five days, eat and drink only donated food and drinks (with all non-perishable food donations given to a shelter), have only a pillow and a sleeping bag, have no access to showers, sleep outside unless inclement weather becomes a health risk, attend classes, and not use their cell phones or social media unless it’s to promote the fundraiser.
Stories about the students’ experiences are posted to www.5days.ca, and you can learn more about Carleton’s SBSS at www.sbssonline.ca.
Monday, March 19, 2018 in News Releases
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