By Emily Domayer —
Morningside students gathered to raise awareness for the homeless in Sioux City Nov. 5. Students went to the Sioux City Explorers ballpark and made cardboard “houses” to sleep in overnight. The event lasted from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
SERVE, a volunteer group at Morningside, promoted the sleep-out. Corinne Youngberg, a senior and co-president of SERVE, explained that SERVE stands for “Serving Everyone Especially through Volunteer Efforts.” Youngberg said, “We want to raise awareness about homelessness in Sioux City. It impacts Morningside more than college students think.”
About 200 to 300 people participated in the sleep-out, which was the seventh year of the event.
Asked about possible solutions to homelessness, Youngberg said, “There is not one solution to homelessness. Volunteering your time and offering support to those who need are great ways to help. It’s important to remember that just the smallest actions make a big difference. One person can make a difference.”
Victoria Dentler, a sophomore, said this was her first year helping out with SERVE. She has learned that one in seven people in America go to sleep hungry. “This event helps me see how people in poverty really live. It’s like putting myself in their shoes.” She and her friends were building a cardboard “house” to sleep in that night.
There were two large white tents set up on the field for special activities. In one, participants could get out of the cold wind and purchase sweatshirts, t-shirts and totes. A silent auction was taking place in the other.
Gloria Meier, who organized the auction, said that all the proceeds will go to help the homeless. “A lot of people who are homeless have chronic mental illnesses. Mental illness can impact a person’s ability to keep a job. The money will help them pay rent, housing deposits, buy bus tickets and medication.“
Erica Worrell was helping serve soup. She said this was her seventh year volunteering for the sleep-out. She explained that the Gospel Mission made the soup, and the Siouxland Food Bank provided the bread. The Siouxland Coalition to End Homelessness made cookies. Worrell gave special acknowledgement to the Explorers’ management for their assistance. “The community is very supportive. Volunteers came to help out from all over.”
In addition to the soup supper, participants had entertainment from a rock band called “The Muffintops.” People huddled together near small fires to keep warm.
Youngberg and other members of SERVE collected money and promoted the event on the Morningside campus. “We had an anonymous $500 donation from someone. We wanted to try to match that amount.“
Morningside was able to do that, and more. SERVE raised $928 on Morningside’s campus alone.
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