On a Thursday night, I drove to Redemption Church to attend a Salt Company service. As I came to a stoplight, I saw a man on the side of the road holding a cardboard sign with a scribbled message in Sharpie: homeless and hungry. I felt my heart pang with guilt. What could I do? How could I be driving to a church service while a man is on the side of the road, begging for what little money he could get? I couldn’t help but think of the freezing weather he was enduring.
Although winters in Minnesota are always harsh, the state has recently experienced dangerously cold temperatures. In the Twin Cities, temperatures dipped to 20 degrees below and wind chills to 50 degrees below in January. These conditions make it easy to catch frostbite quickly, and going outside is unbearable. However, this new winter has been strikingly different.
On top of these difficult conditions, Minnesota has faced rising tensions and instability with increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence in the Twin Cities and subsequent protests. Due to the atmosphere of fear and violence, many Minnesotans are worried about leaving their homes. Families live in fear of the unknown and are afraid to get groceries, go to work or even walk their dog outside.
What can Bethel students do to help?
To help families, specifically Latino communities, Bethel University’s student organization Voz Latino, community group Poder and the Office of Career Development & Calling worked with a local school to provide groceries and necessities to Minnesotans impacted by recent events. The groups have placed cardboard boxes around Bethel’s campus, including in front of the Cultural Connection Center, for students to give. These donations range from non-perishable food items to toys for children to play with while remaining in their homes. The organizations are also taking donations to help families pay for their rent.
Students and staff have delivered these donations to Partnership Academy, allowing for the resources to be dispersed to families in need.
Voz will continue to accept donations until February 17th, and students can sign up to help pack the groceries and supplies Wednesday, February 18th from 5-7 p.m. in The Studio.
Cold conditions have debilitated unhoused communities, making it difficult to survive the winter. Here are some ways in which college students can help the homeless in frigid conditions:
- Donate to homeless shelters: Students can give clothing, blankets and winter gear to the homeless by contributing to food or clothing drives. Some local homeless shelters in the Minneapolis area include:
- Volunteer at local organizations: College students can serve their community by volunteering at day centers, helping Minnesotans find shelter.
- Host food and clothing drives: Students can continue the cycle of giving by starting their own campus drives and donating resources to nonprofit organizations.
