The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
by Megan Guinter
Cleveland winters can be tough, but can you imagine what they would be like without a warm place to call home or clothes to keep you comfortable in the frigid temperatures? This is the reality for the homeless in Cleveland this winter. In an effort to help, some students from Bay High School volunteered at the Homeless Stand Down event on January 23, 2016 at Public Hall.
The Homeless Stand Down event is run by an organization called Hands On Northeast Ohio that connects volunteers to opportunities near them. The Bay High School Student Council has been participating in the Homeless Stand Down event for many years. At the event, the student volunteers either helped in the kids area or in the distribution center. The volunteers in the kids area watched the children while their parents were picking out clothing for the whole family with the help of those students in the distribution area. Through this experience the volunteers gained insight into the magnitude of homelessness here in Cleveland.
Molly Harkness, a junior at Bay High School said, “It was an eye-opening experience. You get to meet many interesting people who you wouldn’t likely see in Bay Village. And I had tons of fun!”
In addition to child care and clothing, the event also included health screenings by medical professionals, job assistance for employment, connections to other aid organizations, and haircuts! Some of the health screenings at the event included HIV/ Aids, breast cancer, diabetes, and blood pressure.
Will Huntington, BHS president of Student Council said, “Volunteering at the Homeless Stand Down is always a special experience. It’s really cool to see how much it means to people, and it’s a great way to give back to the community.”
Megan Guinter
The event raised awareness of homelessness and helped to assist those in need. Hearing about homelessness is different than actually going into the city and meeting people. The student volunteers were able to directly interact and make a difference with people who are homeless in our greater community.
(Ed. Note: Megan Guinter is a student at Bay High and a writer for The Bay Window, the Bay High student newspaper. www.schoolherald.com/bayhigh/2016/01/homeless-stand-down-event-by-megan-guinter)
