A UF fraternity will play games, grill food and collect clothing Saturday for Gainesville’s homeless community.
The Theta Sigma chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is hosting the event, which aims to raise canned goods, clothing and awareness for the homeless community, said Ivens Applyrs, assistant director for the event. The Golden Night of Unity event will begin at 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Courtyard on campus.
All donations will be taken to St Francis House, located at 413 S. Main St., a homeless shelter in downtown Gainesville, the 23-year- old UF computer engineering senior said.
There are more than 1,300 people living in homelessness in the county, according to the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry.
“I have met individuals who were once lawyers, doctors or professors, but due to an unexpected situation found themselves in their present situation,” Applyrs wrote in an email.
He hopes this event will create an increase in understanding for the homeless population. “I believe that a lot of issues arise because of the absence of love,” Applyrs said. “That is the key ingredient in understanding and supporting one another.”
This isn’t the first homelessness-awareness event hosted by the fraternity at UF, he said. In 2002, the fraternity created a Sleep Out for the Homeless event where people camped out on Turlington Plaza in solidarity with the homeless community, which evolved into the block-party-style event that will take place this weekend, Applyrs said.
Garrison Rolle, the director of the event, said he feels it’s important to recognize anyone can be affected by homelessness.
“The emotions and hardships are relatable no matter who you are,” the 20-year-old UF sport management sophomore said. “We just wanted everyone to receive that opportunity to relate and connect.”
