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Blitz Organization raises funds for Candy’s Place

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Happy birthday to Anthony Christopher Riemensnyder!

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; It was a Monday like most others on the King&#8217;s College campus &#8212; students walked to and from classes and O&#8217;Connor Park, between Jackson and Union streets, as always, was busy.</p><p>At the center of the park were two boxes &#8212; discarded containers that once housed a new washer and dryer.</p><p>On this day, those discarded boxes were used to simulate shelter for homeless people.</p><p>In observance of the plight of the homeless, hungry, afflicted and those seeking social justice in the world, King&#8217;s is presenting a series of programs in conjunction with this week&#8217;s observance of annual National Hunger for Justice Week.</p><p>The 60-hour homeless experience in Monarch Court started at 8 a.m. Monday. Volunteers set up a cardboard box on the campus lawn in a make-shift shelter to raise awareness for the plight of the homeless.</p><p>King&#8217;s students will gather to discuss what is being done to help those experiencing homelessness in our area and what individuals, local agencies and government can do to improve efforts.</p><p>The 60-hour homeless experience will end with a candlelight vigil in honor and remembrance of the homeless at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Donations are being accepted to support a local homeless organization.</p><p>Patrick Kuren, 19, of Larksville, a sophomore exercise science major at King&#8217;s, was in one of the boxes Monday morning, getting a close to the ground feel for living on the streets.</p><p>&#8220;It makes you appreciate what you have,&#8221; Kuren said. &#8220;It makes you realize that you have to take life seriously. There are a lot of people out there who are just a paycheck or two away from being without a home.&#8221;</p><p>Kuren is telling his fellow students about the alarming statistics printed on a sign outside his temporary box home:</p><p>&#8226; 35 million Americans are living in poverty</p><p>&#8226; 3.5 million Americans experience homelessness each year</p><p>&#8226; Homelessness is caused by the lack of affordable housing, low income levels, lack of affordable health care, cuts in federal assistance programs, mental illness, alcoholism and drug addiction.</p><p>Kuren said the experience also taught him the importance of treating everyone like a human being.</p><p>&#8220;And it has taught me to do what you can to help,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And do what you can not to just feel good about yourself, but because it&#8217;s the right thing to do.&#8221;</p><p>Kuren said one of the reasons he decided to attend King&#8217;s is because he became aware of the college&#8217;s commitment to helping out in the community.</p><p>&#8220;King&#8217;s is a family,&#8221; Kuren said. &#8220;And we are all a part of the community.&#8221;</p><p>Misericordia University in Dallas is also holding awareness events this week.</p><p>Students and members of the Misericordia community spent Monday sitting in cardboard boxes on the lawn of the Banks Student Life Center to bring awareness to the plight of the homeless in the area. The project was coordinated through the Campus Ministry office.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Patrick Kuren, 19 of Larksville, a sophomore at King&#8217; College, takes part in the 60-hour homeless experience on campus Monday morning. Students took turns staying in make-shift shelters in hopes to raise awareness for the plight of the homeless. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTLKingsHpmeless.jpg</photo0><caption0>Patrick Kuren, 19 of Larksville, a sophomore at King&#8217; College, takes part in the 60-hour homeless experience on campus Monday morning. Students took turns staying in make-shift shelters in hopes to raise awareness for the plight of the homeless. </caption0><photoCredit0>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

King’s College students ‘live’ on the streets to bring awareness to homeless