Penn State Berks students will ?camp out for hunger? on Friday, April 25, 2014, beginning at 9 p.m. in the Perkins Plaza. The Penn State Berks Office of Campus Life will host the college's fifth annual Camp Out for Hunger event. This event is for students only; it is not open to the public.
During this event, students will camp outside on campus overnight to raise awareness and monetary donations, and collect non-perishable goods for the Berks Coalition to End Homelessness, co-sponsor of the event along with the college.
The committee, consisting of students, faculty, and staff, is collecting monetary donations and various items including nonperishable goods, personal hygiene products, and gently used clothing.
This year, the committee has set a goal of raising $2,500 and collecting 500 pounds of nonperishable goods to donate to the 60 local charitable organizations that comprise the Coalition to End Homelessness, including the Opportunity House of Reading, Berks County Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, and the United Way.
As students register, they will be making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which will be donated to Opportunity House the next day. Students who participate will then be exposed to a number of different events that show what it would be like to be homeless.
At 10 p.m., students will have the opportunity to speak with a community member who experienced homelessness in his life and learn how he has overcome adversity to become a successful individual. At just 23 years old, he now owns his own franchise?a huge accomplishment for someone who spent many of his childhood years homeless.
The Campus Activities Board is also hosting a Carnival event on Friday, April 25, from 1?5 p.m. in the Perkins Plaza. Proceeds from this event will also go toward the Camp Out for Hunger.
For more information or to make a donation, contact Brittany Schlechter, Student Activities Coordinator, at 610-396-6068 or via e-mail at [email protected].