Goshen News, Goshen, IN

Breaking News

Local News

April 4, 2008

Homeless — for a night

Several Goshen College students took a trip outside of their comfort zones Friday night in an effort to raise awareness about the realities of homelessness and what they view as a lack of affordable housing options in Elkhart County.

The group, sponsored by Campus Ministries, elected to spend the night in cardboard boxes on the courthouse lawn in downtown Goshen as a way to raise money for Habitat for Humanity as well as awareness for local homelessness.

“We’re just trying to raise awareness for homelessness in the area and the need for affordable housing,” said Phil Schmidt, a senior at Goshen College and student leader with Campus Ministries who helped organize the event.

Each student participant was asked to raise $25 dollars to go toward Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County.

“We asked them to raise $25, and different people have been giving different amounts,” Schmidt said.

Earlier in the day, the group took a walking tour of downtown Goshen and the surrounding area as a way to get an up close and personal look at the often overlooked realities of homelessness in Goshen.

“We did the walk to kind of get a look at some of the places and areas we hadn’t seen before,” Schmidt said. “We saw some of the lower-income areas of Goshen.”

With Friday being his first ever “Shack City” event, Schmidt said he was glad for the opportunity to see the many areas of Goshen that often are overlooked during the everyday grind.

“It was also interesting to see the different service organizations, how they work, and how each has their own specific niche,” he said.

Some of the many local service organizations the students were able to learn about during Friday’s walk included Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County, LaCasa Inc., the Interfaith Hospitality Network, and The Window.

Bryce Bow, a Goshen College junior and first-time Shack City participant, learned about the event through flyers on campus and through the campus worship night.

“I think this is a great opportunity to learn about the lives of homeless people and what they have to go through every day,” Bow said.

While the students were able sate their hunger with a spaghetti dinner provided by The Window, Bow said the event took the idea of fasting — a daily reality for many homless people — to a different place.

“This is kind of like fasting, but with shelter, not food,” Bow said.

Overall, Bow said, the experience has been a good one, noting that he would jump at the chance to participate in a similar event in the future.

“I think it’s a great cause,” Bow said. “It tests your limits a bit, moves you out of your comfort zone, which I think is important. You need to move out of your comfort zone sometimes — to grow.”

Text Only
Local News
  • beer.jpg No major progress for liquor legislation

    INDIANAPOLIS — When it comes to alcohol, the 2013 legislative session may be marked more by what it didn’t do to boost booze sales than what it did.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • USED NWMS award.jpg NWMS leaders receive music honors

    WAKARUSA — For NorthWood Middle School’s departing principal, George Roelandts, his career in education is approaching a coda.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • 0520_RiverFest1.jpg GMS science teacher combines love of Elkhart River, music for festival

    GOSHEN – Two of Jake Miller’s passions converged as naturally as the Elkhart River does with the St. Joseph.

    May 20, 2013 2 Photos

  • 130211 Goshen Inn 03.jpg City closer to acquiring former Goshen Inn property

    Elkhart County Commissioners Monday took the next step in a process that could result in Goshen officials taking possession of the old Holiday Inn property on Goshen’s south side. The move follows a similar approval by the Goshen Board of Public Works and Safety May 6.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • 130517 Tom Yoder YSK 01.jpg You should know: Tom Yoder

    GOSHEN — Tom Yoder doesn’t mind getting dirty when he’s pursuing one of his favorite interests — gardening.

    May 19, 2013 1 Photo

  • 130509 Tornado Siren 02.jpg Technology speeds disaster alerts

    Caitria O’Neill remembers her reaction to hearing tornado warnings on June 1, 2011. She went to the grocery store, she said, “because I live in Massachusetts, and we don’t get tornadoes.”

    May 19, 2013 1 Photo

  • images_sizedimage_217193801 Here today and gone tomorrow

    Word of changes at Navistar wasn’t entirely unexpected. More than 500 jobs leaving Wakarusa? That information was a surprise.

    May 19, 2013 1 Photo

  • 0519_ADEC.jpg ADEC bike ride draws crowd

    ELKHART — Cycling met philanthropy at Concord High School Saturday morning as approximately 250 cyclists hit the pavement to show their support for the 41st annual ADEC Ride-A-Bike fundraising event.

    May 19, 2013 1 Photo

  • PattersonMug.jpg A local quake: low probability, high consequence

    GOSHEN — Earthquakes in Indiana aren’t top of mind for most Hoosiers. But while the chances of a massive earthquake in these parts are slim, the damage such a freak occurrence would cause could be huge.

    May 19, 2013 1 Photo

  • 0519_BetterWorld.jpg Businesses gearing up for new digs in downtown Goshen

    GOSHEN — It may not be much to look at now, but just you wait.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Poll

Have recent scandals involving the U.S. government altered your opinion of President Obama’s job performance?

Yes, I think less of the president’s job performance
No, my opinions have not been impacted one way or the other
     View Results
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
AP Video
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings Commuters Face Delays After Conn. Train Accident Raw: Swarm of Tornadoes Slams Plains Raw: Fierce Bombing in Qusair, Syria RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado Raw: Accused US Spy Reportedly Leaves Russia AP CEO: Records Seizure 'Unconstitutional' Fatal Hot Air Balloon Accident in Turkey Tornadoes, Storms Strike Midwest 'Babyland': Camp Lejeune's Toxic Legacy?