WS Chronicle

In photo: Winston-Salem State University clock tower

Special to
The Chronicle

The Delta Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) will conduct its 19th annual overnight sleep-out to raise awareness of homelessness in the Piedmont Triad on Friday, Nov. 20, beginning at 6 p.m. near the Clock Tower on campus.

Activities during the past week have included the collection of nonperishable food items, school supplies and clothing items for the homeless. The campaign will culminate with the all-night sleep-out that will have members of the fraternity and other students supporting the initiative by spending the night in cardboard boxes, sleeping bags and tents. A makeshift cardboard city will be set up near the Phi Beta Sigma monument on the university’s Greek plots area outside of the Thompson Student Services Center.

Clothing items donated will go to the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission, while the nonperishable food items will be given to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina. The school supplies will support Project Hope of the Winston- Salem/Forsyth County School System and the monetary donations will go to the Samaritan Ministries Annual Penny Campaign.

In 2014 members collected $330 for Samaritan Ministries, approximately 17 boxes of clothing and shoes for the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission, 740 pounds of non-perishable food items for Second Harvest Food Bank and $150 cash for Project Hope.

This year, the fraternity’s goal is to raise $1,000 in cash donations for Samaritan Ministries and Project Hope, 1000 pounds of canned goods and other non-perishable items, and at least 20 boxes of clothing. The drive this year is putting special emphasis on collecting old blankets and toys.
Donations may be made from 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, through 6 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Clock Tower on the WSSU campus.