One with the homeless

MORE than 50 Noosa District State High School students and staff slept rough last Friday night 6 May to help raise money and awareness for Australia’s homeless.
Camped out with nothing more than a sleeping bag and a cardboard box, 47 students from the Interact Club and four teachers battled a chilly May night to experience what a night on the streets might be like.
The event was organised by NDSHS Interact president Matthew Craigie who hoped that the NDSHS students sleeping rough on the cold concrete floor of the H Block precinct would be able to experience and appreciate firsthand what the 105,237 homeless Australians undergo each night.
“As we went to sleep on the concrete ground, we were all able to spare a thought to all the Australians who do not have the luxury of a warm, comfortable bed or basic shelter,” he said.
“At least we knew we would be safe sleeping rough at the school. Many homeless people go to sleep at night worried they will be attacked during the night or that the little property they own is stolen.”
The students spent the evening playing spotlight and board games and the Cooroy Rotary Club provided the students with a nutritious ‘soup kitchen’ dinner.
The funds raised through students obtaining sponsorship for participating in the event will be used to purchase Street Swags (waterproof bedding and shelter) for the homeless.
The total amount of money raised is not yet known at this stage, with some students continuing to seek sponsorship this week after they proved to friends and family that they completed the sleeping rough challenge.
Many of the 47 students who slept over at the school raised over $80 through sponsorship.