WS Chronicle

Members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Delta Alpha Chapter, participated in their 25th annual Sleepout for the Homeless Campaign near the clocktower on the campus of Winston-Salem State University. The event began on Friday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. and concluded at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20. 

Fraternity members, along with WSSU students, braved the elements of sleeping outside in makeshift tents to bring a sense of solidarity, sensitivity, and awareness to the plight of those less fortunate in the greater Winston-Salem community.  

During the 12-hour event, donations of clothing items, non-perishable food, school supplies, and monetary donations were collected. These items will be donated to organizations such as the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, Project HOPE of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, and the Samaritan Ministries. 

The Delta Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma introduced this program to the WSSU campus in 1996 as part of its social action program. For the last 25 years, on the Friday before Thanksgiving, fraternity members have slept in cardboard boxes, sleeping bags, tents, etc. to raise awareness about the issue of homelessness. Activities are held throughout the night, such as a reflection session discussing the sleepouts of the past and a candlelight vigil where the audience were given the opportunity to express what they are thankful for, as we approach the holiday season.

Last year, the fraternity held the sleepout virtually and donated $500 to Samaritan Ministries for its annual Penny Campaign, $200 to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, and three boxes of clothing were donated to the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission.

All sleepout participants were required to wear a mask and practice social distancing as a part of the university’s COVID-19 event protocols. Participants were also required to show proof of vaccination or provide a negative COVID test within 72 hours prior to the sleepout.

Jacorey Alston, senior sports management major with a concentration in sports communication, stated, “As a transfer fraternity member into the Delta Alpha chapter, my first sleepout was pretty good; it’s a different experience. The event made me realize that we should help those in need.”

At the conclusion of the sleepout on Saturday morning, four boxes and three bags of clothing were donated to the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission, 918 pounds of non-perishable food items were donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, one box of school supplies and 24 book bags were donated to Project HOPE of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System, and a check in the amount of $1,500 will be presented to the Samaritan Ministries annual Penny Campaign on Dec. 4.