The Homeless Camp Out

By Celina Bevington

ENGL 336:001

Frostburg State Students combated brutal winds and twenty degree weather Thursday, November 17^th in order to support the Western Maryland Food Bank during the RHA sponsored Homeless Camp Out. The Camp Out, led by Frostburg State Student Brett Shepherd, was held on the Lewis J. Ort Library front deck. As students passed by the encampment they were urged by the campers to donate any bit of change they were willing to give in order to support those less fortunate. Sean McNalley, Assistant Director of the Residence Life Office, said that this event gave “student’s information about something they may not be aware still existed. It also gave them a chance to donate to a worthy cause, the Western Maryland Food Bank.” Most participants did not realize that it was going to be in the twenties that night, but armed with sleeping bags, boxes, coats, blankets, and positive attitude’s they all stuck it out until two in the morning. Frostburg State Senior Kenneth Crisman, a major in Mass Communication, donated a dozen Cup of Noodles to the cause. He believed that this was a great chance to donate to something amazing because, “there are others that are less fortunate than me. I think that what we have we shouldn’t take for granted. I have enough food to support myself, so why not share the extra with others.” Most students who donated also shared Mr. Crisman’s belief, and by the end of the night the campers had raised a total of $101.60 to be donated along with the food to the Western Maryland Food Bank.

Brett Shepherd, a senior majoring in Mass Communication with a minor in communication studies, is the mastermind behind the Homeless Camp Out. Mr. Shepherd said that being from Baltimore and seeing so many around him going without he began to have a soft spot for homeless people. He also mentioned that the other day he and his father were out on Main Street and saw a homeless man sleeping out in front of Dante’s bar, “It just really hurt to see someone sitting homeless outside of a bar.” Brett goes on to say that he hopes this will become a Frostburg State tradition and that he wants to repeat the act at his grad school. Some of the participants were also providing incentives for students to donate to the cause. Psychology Major Brittney Burton sang and offered to dance with any student who donated even a penny to the camp out. Ms. Burton also has a special reason for participating in the event, saying that it was important to do “because I have been without a home and without necessities before, so I don’t want other people to have to go through it. It’s hard.”

Occasionally there were a group students who would walk by the encampment who would shake their heads and continue walking, ignoring the pleas of help from the campers. This was taken in stride by each of the campers who kept their positive attitude throughout the night by bursting into singing Christmas carols or just laughing. Overall, the night was a great success, with more than a dozen students camping out in support, and numerous food, clothing, and monetary donations collected to donate to the Western Maryland Food Bank.