Staying out for a cause

Donations raised by the project will benefit local organizations.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Eighty Youngstown State University students slept in cardboard boxes Saturday night outside their Cafaro Hall dormitory in an effort to raise awareness and financial support for the homeless in the Mahoning Valley.
This is the seventh year that the YSU Scholars program has built Shantytown, and Amy Cossentino, assistant director of the Honors Program at YSU, said the students are more excited than ever.
"Everyone is motivated because this project directly benefits the community and they can see the direct benefits."
In Shantytown, the students spend the night in cardboard boxes to understand what it is like to be homeless.
"This is what gets the event attention, but it doesn't show all of the hard work," says Alysha Brown, 18, a biology major.
Participation
As part of the experience, students participated in related projects.
Friday, a group of students repackaged food at Second Harvest Food Bank.
Saturday morning, some students served breakfast at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. They also offered their help with cleaning, maintenance and computers. Still others went to Habitat for Humanity.
This year's student coordinator, Jessica Plutt, 21, said that her major in fashion merchandising allowed her to use her talents in a unique way to help the homeless. She and other students stayed at the university to make nearly 150 hats and several scarves to give to the homeless.
Saturday afternoon, students met outside their dorm to begin construction of their Shantytown. They painted the boxes with facts about homelessness and sponsors who had given money and supplies to the effort.
Money
The project has raised nearly $1,500, with donations from AVI Foods of Warren and the Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9571 in Ellsworth. Lowe's also donated materials. Once all donations are in, the group expects to have raised more than $2,000, setting a record. All of the money will be given to local organizations to help homeless people.
"Shantytown really introduces the Scholars Program to more organizations. It helps to connect us to people who need the help," said junior Jackie Kusluch, 20, a physics major. She plans on organizing more events this year with contacts she made through the project.
Anyone interested in making a tax-deductible donation or contribution of goods can contact Cossentino at (330) 941-2772.