HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 29, 2014 – High Point University students are putting themselves in the shoes of homeless individuals for a night to spread homelessness awareness and support a local nonprofit organization.
HPU’s Civitan Club will host a car show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, and their second Homelessness Awareness Campout will follow at 7 p.m. that evening. Both events will be held in the Oak Hollow Mall parking lot. The events are free and open to the public, and monetary or canned food donations are suggested to support Open Door Ministries.
During the car show, souped-up vehicles will be on display throughout the parking lot, and local dealers will set up tents to meet and greet attendees.
At the camp out, students and members of the community will sleep in tents or sleeping bags in the parking lot throughout the night in honor of homeless individuals who sleep in similar scenarios every night.
Members from Open Door Ministries, including clients who have recovered from homelessness, will speak at the event, and HPU a cappella groups will perform.
This is the second year the HPU Civitan Club has held the homelessness awareness campout. During the first year, more than 100 people from different schools, church groups and businesses attended the event and left with a new perspective on what it’s like to actually be homeless.
“This event is what helped our Civitan Club earn the Service Project of the Year award from Civitan International last year, and we’re excited about including the car show this year,” says HPU senior Briayna Cuffie, member of the Civitan Club and organizer of the event. “Our club has had an increase in membership, and this is a great way for all of our new members to see the difference they can make as Civitans.”
This year, the group hopes to further the event’s impact by increasing attendance and support for Open Door Ministries.
“Sleeping outside for one night is a great way to help shed light on the problem of homelessness,” says Steve Key, executive director of Open Door Ministries. “Open Door Ministries is privileged to work with the High Point University Civitan Club on this project, and we hope that the community will show their support of the effort that these students have put into organizing this event.”
Event Info:
Car Show
Who: Open to the public
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday
Where: Oak Hollow Mall Parking Lot
Cost: Free; monetary or canned food donations to Open Door Ministries are suggested.
Homelessness Awareness Campout
Who: Open to the public
When: 7 p.m. on Saturday to 7 a.m. on Sunday
Where: Oak Hollow Mall Parking Lot
Cost: Free; monetary or canned food donations to Open Door Ministries are suggested.