2008 Woodie Awards
Team forms to help the less fortunate
Amanda Gilmore
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: news
- Page 1 of 1
The Alliance for Homelessness was formed on Wednesday, October 18 in the Schweiker room at the Andruss Library. The formation of the group was initiated by the staff of Spectrum Magazine, Bloomsburg University's student-run magazine and professor Gary Clark, whose photographic work has been focused on the homeless for the past five years.
"We'd done an article together on homelessness, so there's a nice connection," Clark said shortly before the meeting. Last fall students from Spectrum Magazine conducted a charity drive for the Reach Homeless Shelter in Wilkes-Barre. A U-Haul van was donated and the items were moved to the shelter. As the students entered the shelter, they met a young couple carrying two sleeping bags that they had just donated. "You don't know what this means to us. Tonight, we're going to be warm," they said.
"Those two students will never be the same," Clark said. His initiative to form a permanent effort on campus to combat homelessness was in part inspired by this experience.
The students of Spectrum Magazine were also interested in continuing their efforts from last year. Dr. Walter Brasch, Professor of Journalism and advisor of Spectrum Magazine said that "we take a very liberal role about journalism - it isn't enough to report about the homeless, we've got to do something to help the homeless."
When the Friends of the Library approached Professor Clark just under a year ago, it was a perfect opportunity for him to suggest to Spectrum Magazine that they continue their community service. "Let's do something concrete," Clark told the Friends of the Library.
Last Wednesday, the students of Spectrum Magazine and Professor Clark held a preliminary organizational meeting to broaden the campus community involvement and plan future meetings. The group has temporarily dubbed itself the Alliance for Homelessness, despite the fact that they feel the term 'homelessness' has become overused.
"The word is a cliché, it means absolutely nothing," Clark said. "It's really about helping."
"We'd done an article together on homelessness, so there's a nice connection," Clark said shortly before the meeting. Last fall students from Spectrum Magazine conducted a charity drive for the Reach Homeless Shelter in Wilkes-Barre. A U-Haul van was donated and the items were moved to the shelter. As the students entered the shelter, they met a young couple carrying two sleeping bags that they had just donated. "You don't know what this means to us. Tonight, we're going to be warm," they said.
"Those two students will never be the same," Clark said. His initiative to form a permanent effort on campus to combat homelessness was in part inspired by this experience.
The students of Spectrum Magazine were also interested in continuing their efforts from last year. Dr. Walter Brasch, Professor of Journalism and advisor of Spectrum Magazine said that "we take a very liberal role about journalism - it isn't enough to report about the homeless, we've got to do something to help the homeless."
When the Friends of the Library approached Professor Clark just under a year ago, it was a perfect opportunity for him to suggest to Spectrum Magazine that they continue their community service. "Let's do something concrete," Clark told the Friends of the Library.
Last Wednesday, the students of Spectrum Magazine and Professor Clark held a preliminary organizational meeting to broaden the campus community involvement and plan future meetings. The group has temporarily dubbed itself the Alliance for Homelessness, despite the fact that they feel the term 'homelessness' has become overused.
"The word is a cliché, it means absolutely nothing," Clark said. "It's really about helping."