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August 25, 2008 Living on the streets is not easy. Many of the homeless are starving and living in weather conditions that can become lethal when the temperatures drop. In a small community, many individuals do not realize the increasing number of homeless people living under the bridge, in the park or the alleys. As part of Hunger Awareness Month, a group of nonprofit representatives from Fremont County, known as “Providing Intervention to Community Homelessness” will host an “Under the Bridge Cardboard Camp-out” event from 7 p.m. Sept. 19 until noon Sept. 20 in the field at 14th and Main streets. The idea of the camp-out is to help those who cannot help themselves, said Kurt Zerby, committee co-chairman, along with Cañon City Pregnancy executive director and member Kristy Slaughenhaupt, who saw a similar event advertised on the Internet. After bringing the idea to the board in the last meeting, a committee was formed to organize the camp-out. “Starpoint, Early Head Start and Spin are on board with this,” Slaughenhaupt said. “They are going to be drop-off points for clothes, canned goods and stuff that we’re collecting.” Kicking off the event, there will be hobo stew served throughout the night, followed by a pancake breakfast the next morning. Participants plan to camp out at the field to raise awareness of the growing problem in Fremont County. “Come donate and be a blessing,” said Don Farr, executive director of Loaves & Fishes and committee member. Slaughenhaupt pointed out that this is a community event with numerous organizations joining in to help the cause. “Some of our guys are going to come sleep with us that night,” Zerby said. To let people know about the event, the group sent letters to churches, asking them to help with the event. And at the same time, the committee would like for schools, service clubs and various organizations get on board. “The big push is to have people bring donations,” Zerby said. “It’s not going go to be a big event with 100 people hanging out.” Slaughenhaupt encourages the public to visit the field, read the wall or spend the night to show ‘I’m going to think outside the box.’ Sometime between 7 p.m. Sept. 19 and noon Sept. 20, the group asks the community to take time out of their busy lives to think of the homeless and drop off a box of food or a bag of clothes. “As the economy declines, the need is only getting greater,” she said. For more information on the event or to help, call 275-7074 or 275-0593. Charlotte Burrous can be reached at cburrous@ccdailyrecord.com. |