The cold wasn’t enough to keep five U of G students from sleeping in a tent in Branion Plaza for five days last week as part of the annual “5 Days for the Homeless” campaign. They relied on the kindness of strangers, who donated food, drinks and money. This year’s team raised $10,000 for Wyndham House, a Guelph-based organization that supports homeless youth.

“I am so proud of our ‘5 Days for the Homeless’ students and what they learned and achieved this week,” says Julia Christensen Hughes, dean of the College of Business and Economics, who spent the last night of the fundraiser sleeping in Branion Plaza. “While they thankfully never had to worry about their personal safety or wonder when their time in the cold might come to an end — as those who live on the streets routinely do — they did give up the comforts that many of us take for granted on a daily basis in order to raise awareness and money for homeless youth in Guelph.”

From left, Spencer Coetzee, Joab Rosa, Madi Homewood, dean Julia Christensen Hughes, and Victoria Marshall
From left, Spencer Coetzee, Joao Rosa, Madi Homewood, dean Julia Christensen Hughes, Sara Douglass and Victoria Marshall