Students sleep outside as part of 5 Days for the Homeless

Posted: March 16, 2015 1:25 p.m.

Five Days for the Homeless participants with with members of the Business School Society organizing committee and visitors from Carmichael Outreach and Boardwalk Rental Communities. Photo courtesy of Nicole Pyne

Students, faculty and staff on campus this week will notice a group of five “homeless” students and countless volunteers asking for your support.

As part of the 5 Days for the Homeless campaign five U of R students will spend five days and nights living outside on campus grounds. They will forgo common necessities including food, shelter and showers while still attending classes. They will also only eat food that has been donated to them.

This year’s campaign started on March 15 and will continue to March 20 with a mission to raise awareness about homelessness and collect money for a local charity. This is the sixth year that the University of Regina has taken part in this initiative, with its support going to Carmichael Outreach in Regina. Since 2010 the campaign has raised more than $104,000 for Carmichael Outreach.

The 5 Days campaign is hosted by the Business Students Society (BSS) and includes participants and volunteers from all faculties on campus. Co-chairs for 5 Days are Lynn Barber and Breanne Dmytriw, who have 25 BSS members on their organizing committee and an additional 95 volunteers who will help to ensure the week is safe and successful.

"I was a participant in 5 Days for the Homeless last year and it was one of the most amazing experiences I've had during university and one of my greatest accomplishments,” says Lynn Barber, a student from the Paul J. Hill School of Business and co-chair for the 5 Days initiative. “The response from the campus was overwhelming and extremely humbling”.  

This year’s participants are Brett Kitchen from the Faculty of Business Administration, Jade Koch from the Faculty of Social Work and three students from the Faculty of Arts, Shawn Wiskar, Daniella Zemlak and Ashley Bernstein. This year the BSS has also partnered with the Campbell Collegiate Business Club as the official junior donation partner to help with fundraising efforts.

"I decided to get involved because it is an issue I really support and wanted to be able to do my part to make a difference,” says Jade Koch.

For a list of events please visit: http://www.uregina.ca/business/events/2015/03/5days-homeless.html

This year the BSS hopes to raise $26,000 for Carmichael Outreach. You can donate online at: http://5days.ca/regina/.

The U of R’s Business Faculty is making a difference. For information please visit http://www.uregina.ca/business/