By Sarah Stone

Students brave cold to bring awareness to homelessness

Nov 6, 2014 | 10:28 AM

A group of Grade 8 students from Riverside Public School braved the cold for a worthy cause.

On Wednesday night around 14 students and staff stayed outside of the Superstore on 15th Street East trying to raise money for the Prince Albert’s women’s shelter.

Teacher Jordan Holmen said the aim of the project was not only to raise money, but to bring awareness to the issue of homelessness—especially in youth.

“It’s part of their We Day activity for youth justice.  They’re going to spend all night out here campaigning for donations and then they’re going to be heading back to the school to spend the rest of the night outside,” Holmen said Wednesday evening as the students waved signs and collected donations.

Throughout the course of the night well over $1,000 was raised.

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 “It hits pretty close to home for most people and they know it’s an issue in Prince Albert, right.  And a lot of the kids at our school have used the shelter at one time or another,” he said.

Grade 8 student Raquel Shylee Vandall was very vocal about the issues while asking for donations.

“Lots of people have died in the past few years for being homeless,” Vandall said.

The issue of homelessness is something that gets overlooked, Vandall added, so it’s important to stand up and do your part to help.

“Give somebody a hand because it could be you someday living on the streets just like them.”

The students stayed at Superstore until 10 p.m. before moving back to the school where they slept overnight.

The group woke up to a hot meal courtesy Riverside at 6 a.m.

We Day is a movement meant to empower young people through an inspirational event and year-long educational initiative.  It challenges students to take local action to improve their community.

In Saskatchewan there is a We Day event held in Saskatoon on Friday at the SaskTel Centre.

sstone@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahstone84