Camp Out to Stamp Out Homelessness was held on Dec. 1 on North Idaho College’s campus.
Many students and peers showed up to demonstrate how much they cared for the cause. One in particular was Dennis Hardwick, who spoke about his experiences with homelessness to those that attended the event.
“This cause is amazing,” Hardwick said, “It shows me that young people in the community care about their community.”
Coeur d’Alene has many resources available to the homeless men, women and children of the community. One such service that is especially beneficial is Fresh Start on Sherman Avenue. Fresh Start offers free showers, clean clothes and canned food for homeless men and women to take with them. The Fresh Start Center can handle 120 people a day. Besides Fresh Start, Coeur d’Alene’s homeless community is also served by the Anchor House, which can provide for three families per week.
“It makes me excited that our youth wants to get involved in changing our community for the better,” said Justine Graybeal, director of Fresh Start.
“We spend too much time caught up in our own little spheres; we need to break out of our comfort zones and notice the needs of others,” said Nathan Cools, one of the event’s coordinators.
Also available to the homeless population in the Coeur d’Alene area is the St. Vincent de Paul H.E.L.P. center and many regional churches.
“I really want people to know that the homeless shelters aren’t just to supply the homeless,” said Emily Skubitz, 19, Resort Recreation Management. “It shows that there are still people out there that care about the community.”
The Resort Recreation Management program had only eight weeks to plan and coordinate the Camp Out to Stamp Out Homelessness event.
“Where awareness starts, change begins,” Amberin Renee, business, Sandpoint, said.
There are close to 600 homeless men and women in Coeur d’Alene.
“I think it’s vital for students to participate in events like this,” said ASNIC Senator and event coordinator Katie Peck.
“…Students have the ability to make an enormous change,” said Renee.
Camp Out to Stamp Out Homelessness was coordinated by the Resort Recreation Management program and sponsored by Student ASNIC, SuperOne Foods, Atomic Threads, Starbucks, Staples and Avion Coffee.
“On behalf of the coordinators of the Camp Out to Stamp Out project, I would like to thank Jan Pederson and Eddie Nelson for providing the free breakfast in the Student Union Building. Also, Matthew Sebby for his enormous help and Paul Chivvis for allowing us this opportunity,” said Peck.
“I think that [this event] has a positive impact on the community, just because we’re college students and it shows that we care,” Skubitz said.
