St. John's University Athletics
Sleep-Out For The Homeless
2/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | General
Feb. 22, 2005
St. John's University Campus Ministry hosted an event titled "Sleep-out for the Homeless" from Ash Wednesday, February 9 to Friday, February 11, 2005 on the Great Lawn of the Queens Campus. The event was designed to raise awareness about homelessness and raise funds for organizations that assist New York's homeless population.
Student-athletes noticed the opportunity and took an active role in participating. On Wednesday, February 9, members of the women's softball team and women's golf team simulated a soup kitchen in Council Hall for the participants. They prepared sandwiches, soup and snacks for those participants who were sleeping out. The group watched a video on homelessness during the dinner.
Lisa Geer, freshmen on the women's softball team, commented that this activity gives you "a better understanding of how life is on the other side."
"It makes you appreciate what you have," Jacklyn Sanders, of the Red Storm women's golf team, said.
Some student athletes made the commitment to sleep-out to raise awareness.
Justin Abel, Ben Shuleva, Jason Landers from the men's soccer team and Caitlin Rimgaila and Elizabeth Austin from the volleyball team were glad to be able to participate.
Balancing their practice schedule and studying; these student athletes led by their example and responded to the challenge to let other people know about this situation.
Jillian Sandoval, a senior on the softball team, commented "it is really important to make people aware that homelessness could happen to anyone." These student athletes took it upon themselves to educate themselves and others in regards to homelessness.
