TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama Office of Volunteer Services will sponsor Hunger and Homelessness Week activities on campus March 17-21.
Events include:
Monday, March 17, is Visual Day. There will be statistics on homelessness and hunger posted around campus at the Quad, the biology building, ten Hoor, Alston and Little Halls in an effort to raise student awareness. Lambda Sigma Phi and a committee of students are working on this project.
On Tuesday, March 18, the movie “Aladdin” will be shown at 8 p.m. at the Lambda Sigma Phi House. Admission is a canned food donation.
Guest lecturer Ray Klimley will be speaking on Wednesday, March 19, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in room 360 of the Ferguson Center. Klimley lived on the streets in Nashville, Tenn., for three years. While living on the streets, he recognized a need to improve how the homeless are treated and to improve the services available to the homeless. Klimley will discuss what it’s like to be homeless and how he turned his life around and now helps others do the same.
Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to participate in the Grate American Sleep-Out from 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, until 6:30 a.m. Thursday, March 20. The public is encouraged to come to the UA Amphitheater and spend the night. Participants are only allowed a sleeping bag and one item. During the event, Klimley and Capt. Tony Perez of the Salvation Army will speak and a candlelight vigil/memorial will be held at 12:30 a.m. to recognize those affected by being homeless. Other activities are planned throughout the evening. Volunteer hours will be given to participants; fraternity and sorority philanthropic points will be awarded.
On Thursday, March 20, the University Honors Program will sponsor a Hunger and Homeless Banquet at Doster Hall.
Various campus organizations and individuals will work together to feed the homeless on Friday, March 21. Students will be working in Tuscaloosa at the Community Soup Bowl from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and at the Salvation Army from 4:30-7 p.m.
For more information, contact Jessica Gillilan at 205/348-5716 or gilli017@bama.ua.edu.
Contact
Laura Medders or Linda Hill, Office of Media Relations, 205/348-8325, lhill@ur.ua.edu
Jessica Gillilan, 205/348-5716, gilli017@bama.ua.edu