People walking down Grand River Avenue on Friday night were bombarded by students outside the Union with signs and requests for spare change — all for the homeless.
Members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. stayed outside for 12 hours, starting at 8 p.m., and raised $300 in cash, food and clothing for the City Rescue Mission of Lansing, a local homeless shelter.
The event, which is called Sleep Out with the Homeless, is an annual program held by the national fraternity and members of the MSU chapter, said Cortez Robinson-Starks, president of the MSU chapter.
Participants want to experience what it is like to be homeless, while collecting money, food and clothes to donate to the shelter, Robinson-Starks said. The fraternity is not obligated to hold the event, but MSU's chapter chooses to hold it yearly, he said.
"Hopefully, I will never know what it is like to be homeless," Robinson-Starks said. "I do know that they need help."
Cheryl Motter, office manager of the City Rescue Mission of Lansing, said around Christmastime, people begin to donate and organizations hold more clothing and food drives. During this time, there are not many sleep-out events held very often, she said.
"It is probably good for students to see how cold it really is out there," Motter said.
Darnell Holmes II, a communication senior, said he came out to participate in the event and donate food, clothes and money.
"I know how it feels to be in a situation where you need extra help, and I have had family members that needed extra help," Holmes said. "I felt it was my obligation to give back some type of help. If I can come out here and give some food, give some clothes, give some money, then so be it. It is all going toward a good cause. It is all toward the goodwill of man."
Lionel Williams, a parliamentarian, said his motivation to weather the cold comes from his past experiences throughout his life.
"I have been put in the financial situation to do things for other people, and that is a blessing," Williams said. "Anytime you are put in any type of position to help someone less fortunate than you, then you should take an advantage of that."
However, not everybody was in the position to donate.
Mycael McDowell, a chemical engineering sophomore, said he thought it was a good idea that the fraternity was supporting a good cause and doing something for others, although financially, he could not help out.
"I would (donate), but I actually have no money," McDowell said. "I actually do feel bad."
Korey Scott, the fraternity's treasurer, said because he grew up in a "privileged household" he feels responsible to help those in need.
"It is a chance to really open up and meet people and see who is actually willing to support humanity — who wants to donate a few pennies," Scott said.
Seema Desai, a premedical freshman, was walking down Grand River Avenue when she saw fraternity members were holding signs.
"Most people wouldn't spend the whole night outside, so I find it really interesting, and (it) made me want to help their cause," Desai said.
Williams said this is his fourth time participating in the event and has enjoyed watching it grow.
"We've tried to advertise it more to the campus to get them more involved so it's not just us out here," Williams said.
