Members of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity spent the evening last Friday as if they were homeless.

The fraternity held its third annual Sleep-Out for the Homeless in the Union courtyard from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., with all of the proceeds benefiting the Lansing City Rescue Mission.

DaRon Sims, Phi Beta Sigma community service chairperson and coordinator of the sleep-out, said the frigid conditions on Friday didn’t dampen the mood.

“Everyone was in good spirits,” the business pre-law senior said. “We had planned this event since the beginning of the semester and we were prepared for the weather. We knew what we were getting into.”

As part of the event, the fraternity was accepting donations of clothing, nonperishable food items, toiletries, hygiene products and monetary donations large or small.

“We do this event yearly and every year we choose a different charity,” he said. “This year we decided we wanted to help raise awareness of homeless people.”

Last year the fraternity donated the proceeds of its sleep-out to the Haven House, Sims said.

“We collected a pickup truck bed full of clothes and food,” Sims said. “In addition we raised more than $200 that we will donate to the Mission.”

Dan Hicks, executive director of the Lansing City Rescue Mission, said he appreciates the MSU students who volunteer their time to improve awareness of the needs of the homeless.

“Meeting the needs of homeless and impoverished people is not easy and we can’t do it without support from the community at large,” Hicks said.

“We have a lot of help coming from MSU students and we really appreciate all of their efforts.”