A group of Regina students spent five days and five nights outside to raise money and awareness for the city’s homeless.
It was part of the University’s eighth 5 Days for the Homeless fundraiser. The students only had the clothes on their backs, a sleeping bag and a pillow. They had to give up their cell phones and could only eat donated food.
“We’re all putting ourselves out of our comfort zone,” said Joshua Exner, a participant in the event and a student in the Faculty of Science.
The money raised during the five day event will go towards Regina’s Carmichael Outreach.
“Every year this event surpasses my expectations,” Tyler Gray with Carmichael Outreach said at a press conference on Friday afternoon. “They build every year, so that’s an incredible thing.”
The event accounts for 10 per cent of Carmichael’s annual income.
“We had lots of positive feedback,” Exner said. “Even some people who couldn’t make a donation, they would stop and want to learn more about what Carmichael’s all about and even come back the next day and maybe bring a donation. Even when those people can’t (give) a donation, it’s awesome to see how interested they are in what we’re doing and what we’re raising awareness for.”
5 Days for the Homeless had a fundraising goal of $37,000. The students were able to far exceed that goal, collecting $51,353.27 for Carmichael Outreach.
