Clarkson Students Join Forces for Habitat for Humanity
Clubs and students spanning the University came out to Cheel campus lawn on October 3rd to for the first ever Clarkson "Sleep Out," where students roasted marshmallows by a bonfire, learned about the life of the homeless, and of course, slept.
In an effort to raise money and awareness for the Raquette Valley Habitat for Humanity, Clarkson students gave up their comfortable, warm beds to sleep outside under cardboard boxes.
"We wanted to do something different that the students would enjoy," said Paula Wilmot, co-organizer and director of co-curricular education and programming at Clarkson. "It just happened to be really cold that night. We couldn't believe that the students stuck it out and actually slept outside in cardboard boxes, sleeping bags, and tents!"
The event raised $3500 for Habitat. But according to co-organizer and Assistant Director of The Clarkson School Jennifer French, it was about more than the donation. "Not only do events like this teach people about empathy, they can also be very humbling experience," she said.
The organizers hope that Clarkson students can get more involved with the local Habitat chapter, especially with building. "There seems to be a lot of interest for doing this type of community service. It just goes to show how amazing it can be when a campus or a community gets together behind something," concluded Wilmot.