Polytechnic Middle School Students Raise Funds, Awareness at ‘Camp Out to Stamp Out Homelessness’
At Union Station’s first ever “Camp Out to Stamp Out Homelessness” on Friday, April 4, 2014, Polytechnic Middle School students raised over $4,000 for Union Station Homeless Services. They also helped raise awareness.
The students enjoyed dinner, games and inspiring speakers during the four-hour event. They sat on blankets and sleeping bags while they listened to Phillip Palmer and former client Kyle as each spoke about different facets of teenage homelessness.
Phillip Palmer, an anchor at KABC-TV, emceed the event and shared facts and statistics about teenage homelessness, as well as stories about classmates who were homeless when he was in school.
Former Union Station Homeless Services resident Kyle, now 21, spoke to the students about what it was like for him being homeless during his teen years, and shared some of the struggles he’s had to endure.
he students participated in a number of activities that illuminated the issues of poverty and homelessness, including a scavenger hunt, a budgeting game, and a viewing of the documentary “@Home,” which focuses on activist Mark Horvath and his effort to shed light on homelessness through social media.
As a precursor to the evening, the students took pledges from friends and family for donations to Union Station Homeless Services. They raised over $4,000.
Whole Foods Pasadena presented a check for $5,255 to Union Station Homeless Services during the event, and Dog Haus donated and served a delicious dinner of their signature sausages.
Union Station Homeless Services, 825 E. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 240-4550 or visit unionstationhs.org.
Whole Foods Market, 3751 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 351-5994 or visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/pasadena
Polytechnic School, 1030 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 396-6300 or visit www.polytechnic.org.