Phi Beta Sigma takes walking in the shoes of another one step further

For the last 10 years, the members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity have spent chilly night outdoors sleeping in cardboard boxes collecting food and clothes for the homeless during the campus”Sleep-Out for the Homeless.” The campus Sleep-Out allows Winston-Salem State University students to spend a night outside, as if walking in the shoes of a person without a home. For one night, students and fraternity members alike sleep in cardboard boxes, sleeping bags and tents…discussing,thinking and learning about this issue. While sleeping outside, the Phi Beta Sigma brothers collect canned goods, clothing, school supplies and monetary donations for the homeless. The clothing is donated to Crisis Control Ministries, while the can-goods and nonperishable food items are given to the Second Harvest Food Bank of northwest North Carolina. The school supplies are handed to Project Hope of the Winston- Salem/ Forsyth County school systems, and the money will be donated to the Samaritan Ministries Annual Penny Campaign on December 2nd. Under the advisory of Dr. Sadie Webster, a nursing professor, the Omega Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. birthed “Sleep-Out for the Homeless”. Though discontinuedby the Zetas around 1992 or 1993, Phi Beta Sigma (under former advisor and Economics Professor Dr. Valentine Okonkwo) reintroduced this program to the WSSU campus in 1996 as part of its Social Action Program. Though discontinued by the Zetas around 1992 or 1993, Phi Beta Sigma (under former advisor and Economics Professor Dr. Valentine Okonkwo) reintroduced this program to the WSSU campus in 1996 as part of its Social Action Program. Due to this and similar social programs, the Delta Alpha Chapter won the 1997International Collegiate Chapter of the Year award during the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Conclave in Orlando, Florida. Since the rebirth on Friday November 22nd, 1996, Phi Beta Sigma has continued the Sleep-Out for the Homeless for ten years and counting. So far, 1996 was the most successful of the sleep-outs; students and Triad residents along with others watchedmany television stations focus on a student organizationsleeping in the rain for the homeless. The news coveragefrom the different media outlets, combined with the brilliant glare from their camera lights, lit up the Greek plot area like a football field. Originally starting off as a one-day event, the Sleep-Out for the Homeless has blossomed into a week filled with different activities meant to address the concerns of thehomeless in the area. In November 2000, Phi Beta Sigma started doing the week of activities with the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homeless when fraternity member JeffreyWithers contacted the agency. Every year, the charitable event has brought more media attention to WSSU’s campus. Each year, one week before Thanksgiving, Phi Beta Sigma joins the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National StudentCampaign Against Hunger and Homeless to cosponsor their version of the Nation Hunger and Homelessness Week. This is anational event for promoting education, action and awarenessabout the very real problems of hunger and homelessness.