Submitted
About 20 youth and 5 adults from the Ponoka Seventh Day Adventist Church experienced what it would be like to be like to be “Homeless for a Day.”
From Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m. for 24 hours people camped out in an effort to raise some awareness of what it is like to be homeless in Canada.
As temperatures dropped below minus 18 degrees C the youths, some with their sleeping bags in large boxes, some sleeping on chairs felt what it was like to try to sleep outside in Alberta winters.
Their only meal during that time was a potluck lunch served after the church service and their only time inside approximately was for about two to four hours on Saturday. On Friday evening, the youth also had the privilege of hearing the testimony of an individual who had been homeless for about two years and heard first-hand the pain that can accompany making wrong choices and living on the street.
We would like to thank those who helped make this event possible; Scott and Melody Campbell with firewood, little Jon’s portable toilets, and the Good Water Company. The youth also raised pledges with the funds that were raised are going to be used for needs in the community and will be being planned by the young people.