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Shack-a-Thon Inspires Creativity, Promotes Awareness
Student organizations build and occupy shacks to call attention to homelessness and hunger
Featured News | November 17, 2017
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The Òùµ´ÉÙ¸¾ student Art Club fashioned their winning “Rainbow Shack” from sticks and twigs, sheet plastic, colorful cloth and other collected materials to take the “Top Shack” prize at Shack-a-Thon, which took place on the VWU campus November 14-16.
While inspiring plenty of creativity and ingenuity, the event was timed to coincide with National Hunger & Homelessness Week. The purpose of the event was to unite the VWU campus and raise awareness about the current state of hunger and homelessness, especially within this community; to stimulate ideas of what it means to be hungry and homeless in Hampton Roads; and to build shacks, spend time in the shacks and learn from this unique experience.
A total of nine campus organizations and 86 participants took part in building temporary shacks on the Batten Center lawn on the VWU campus. The shacks stayed in place for three days and two nights and were occupied by at least one participant between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Each group also raised funds for philanthropic efforts and collected canned food and other donations.
In addition to shack building, Shack-a-Thon featured various events including presentations by guest speakers from Blankets for the Homeless and LIFT (Lifting spirits, Improving bodies, Feeding souls and Transforming lives). Judges for the shack awards were representatives of a variety of community partner organizations and VWU alumni.
The Art Club took top prize for the most money raised and was also named “Most Creative Shack.” “Most Sustainable Shack” went to Chi Beta Psi, “Most Educational Shack” to the Office of Community Service, “Most Transformational Shack” to Sigma Nu, “Most Authentic Shack” to Recreation and Leisure Studies Instructor Takeyra Collins' First Year Experience class. Collins organized Shack-A-Thon along with VWU’s 2018 Off-Campus Winter Homeless Shelter student managers.
“I decided to host a VWU Shack-A-Thon as I wanted to raise awareness about the current state of hunger and homelessness, especially in our community,” says Collins. “In working as faculty manager for VWU's Winter Homeless Shelter for the past four years, I thought it was important to open the doors to the shelter season with a bang. Our stand to raise awareness about hunger and homelessness has been amazing and many people on our campus have taken note of VWU's student's commitment to being involved and making a difference.”
The annual shelter is scheduled for January 10-17. This year VWU will continue its tradition of providing services for the homeless during the University’s Winter Session through partnerships with First Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth, Courthouse Community United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach and Oaklette Methodist Church in Norfolk.
The 2018 Off-Campus Winter Homeless Shelter student managers include: Terra Caple '19, Avriana Chavez '17 , Claude Clark '18, Lawrence Graves '18, Cassetty Howerin '18, Rolonda Taylor '18, Hailey Urquijo '18, Tyriq Wellman '20 and Michelle Yates '18.