Journals

** Just thought I would make a note saying some people are only sleeping out for 24 hours while others are sleeping out for the whole 120 hours. I have some journals from today and yesterday, some people were at work/school and I did not receive any journals until now, so some are a couple days old. so there will be a lot.


MATT:
Last night was our first night out. I never slept much between the cold, nerves and the fear of being told that we couldn't sleep here. We were fortunate so far because the weather has been nice but every time I think how lucky we are, I keep thinking about the homeless and the one's who are not so lucky. The people on the streets of DT have been very kind and friendly thus far. Some people thin that screaming out their window is cool for the lack of better words. I am not looking forward to work but I'm looking forward to seeing the kids and talking about the experience so far. Excited for what the day brings.

SARAH:
It's the 32nd Hour!!!! The sourness and hurting feet are starting. Yesterday we had another lucky day with the weather. We walked around and meet great people. We also had two ladies join our experience. We walked to the Native Friendship Centre and they invited us in with open arms. We got to experience part of their culture, met great people and memories. I'm pretty tired and I hear the word bagel. I'm learning you have to eat when the opportunity arrives. Enjoy your day. We all miss you Michelle and Craig!

NOEL:
Spent the day out and about talking to people and collecting donations. As I was sitting on the sidewalk I thought to myself that people who are faced with homelessness much feel a lot of pain. Because they must feel so isolated from society. Later that day we went to the St. John's Native Friendship Centre for a talking circle, it was great.

BLAIR:
I'm very pleased with the media coverage and the support from the community. I was very tired all day yesterday as I had little to no sleep but I felt god because I knew we had a safe place to sleep last night. We did a lot of walking and we did a talking circle at the Native Friendship Centre, it was a very powerful experience and it was encouraging to see the enthusiasm the youth expressed to us. Tonight is the mid-week event and we will be half way through the campaign soon. We expect harsh weather tonight, we will do well tonight as we have a wonderful group of people together.

NIKITA:
I had a good experience at the Native Friendship Centre. It was very great of them to share their talking circle with us. I'm not a very open person but I felt very comfortable and safe to open up in the circle. The night was a bit colder then the first but we all made it through with the strength of each other. When he third morning came and we had to stash our cardboard so that we could have it for the night really hit me and I honestly felt homeless. I thought to myself this is how people live everyday and my heart saddened.

NICOLE:
8:20am
Well.. It has been two nights 37 hours and I'm still surviving! I had to go to the walk in clinic yesterday morning,  the doctor was not very happy with my decision to continue with my strep throat. The fact that  I was able to establish a ride there and could get my antibiotics because I have medial insurance made me feel very guilty. I know I have to look out for myself but who looks our for the young person living on the streets with no support, no ride to the walk in clinic with no medical insurance to get the medicine needed? To my hubby and kids, I'm okay! XOXO

SAM:
Second night down. Thankfully the second night was much warmer than the first. It makes it so much easier that I have these amazing people along with me but I can't stop thinking about those people who are completely alone, who have ABSOLUTELY nobody. It's incredible how comfortable and attached I feel to all the participants even though the first time meeting a lot of them was only Monday.

MATT: 
We are in our 3rd day and for some reason I have the feeling of rejuvenation. I'm not sure if it was the fact that I slept for 3 hours of if it was that I worked 4-12 last night and the kids were very excited and full of questions about our campaign. I was very tired at work but the boys energy helped keep me going. I took the opportunity to talk to them and try to feed them with as much info as I could. I'm feeling very excited, exhausted and overwhelmed because being up at 6am and walking the streets seeing the true homeless, sleeping and just surviving really plays with your emotions. We are at Mile One now waiting for the telegram so I'm off to try and keep warm.

SARAH:
I am very tired today. To Ivy, Rhonda, Gemma, Lesley and Stephanie - We miss you guys! The 24 hour participants sure bring a great dynamic to the group.

NICOLE:
Today is differently gonna be hard. Last night, I was cold. I barely slept and woke up at 4am for the day. I figured I was gonna drop due to our 5k walk with our backpacks from downtown to Bowring Park and then the excitement of being able to see and talk to my family and friends at the event. I wished so bad that I could just call my husband and go home to my warm comfy bed, and while I know that I could have it made me think of the people who can't just "go home". This morning as we made our way to Atlantic Place to wash my face and brush my teeth, we passed a person who has lived on the streets for many years, we chatted, said 'Good Morning', his maid concern was were we okay, did we find a good spot, how are we feeing. It made me realize that even though he looks dirty and carries a Tim Hortons cup begging for change, he is as just as much as a person as you and I. I have had people give the same ignorant look that I have done some many times. If I have learned anything from this experience so far is that some people are so rude to the people who need the attention most. I will NEVER just walk by and ignore someone again, even if I have no change a hello is just as important!

SAM:
Third night down, I feel a lot better today because I actually got a really good sleep last night. We lucked out on an awesome sleeping location. I'm not used to the continuous walking we've been doing the last three days so all the walking plus carrying my things on my back is really taking a tole on my feet and knees. Already I've gained such an appreciation for so many little things I normally take for granted. My heart has been broken so many times in the last three days but it definitely makes me realize how happy I am to be doing what I'm doing. I know that I'm in the right field. I feel guilty because the only thing getting me through till Saturday is the fact that I know I'm going HOMe, I just can't get it out of my head that there are so many people who have no where to call home. It's not right, it's embarrassing, as a society, that so many people have no where to go and have no other choice but to live on the streets. Things need to change.

BLAIR:
It has been the coldest day so far, I felt cold the entire day. My energy was better as I was able to get 3 hours of sleep. So far I have had 3 hours of broken sleep in 2 days. Today is the day of the mid-week event and we walked  through the heard of the city and we were supported by many people going by in cards. The mid-week event was a success, we had two politicians speak and many people came to the event. The morale is high and we continue to try and create change.

LINDA:
I want to say that I am so honoured to have gotten chosen to be part of such an amazing group of people, for such an important cause. I am not sure what I can expect to gain from this experience, what I do know is that it will be life changing. It is impossible to do something of this magnitude and not be affected.

ASHLEY:

Hello! 
I've never written a blog before so cut me some slack! :) My name is Ashley and I'm a Social Work student with MUN. I joined sleep out 120 as a 24 hour participant after meeting Blair and Sarah at the School of Social Work. They were both filled with so much passion and determination for this cause that it almost made you jump out of your chair! 
I was excited to find out the board had agreed to let us participate. However, now that we are closer to the date, I'm nervous, anxious and somewhat scared. I've never been homeless and I've always had dedicated family and friends who supported me no matter what. 
Since agreeing to be part of this I've noticed more of the issues that impact the lives of the homeless and people who are at risk of being homeless. As Social Workers we learn from books and professors, but really you need to be able to understand how the other side lives before you can even begin to help make a change. 
This experience will be one of the boldest and out there experiences I have every done with regards to volunteering. But I'm sure it will lend itself to be an experience I will never forget. 

STEPHANIE:
Wednesday 27. 8:30am
I just arrived at Choices admin building and everyone is already waiting. I'm excited but looking at the others I'm aware that I have been home in my comfort while they have been sacrificing.  Last night I was home preparing and I just wanted to eat as much as I could. It reminds me of many people I encounter through work and its pretty powerful to think about the importance of food. Sometime when you see these kinds of suffering every day it almost becomes "the norm" I mean, its still as horrible to see it but it becomes such an everyday occurrence, its shocking that it becomes a part of your day. I'm excited and appreciative of the experience. 
3:20pm - People acknowledge us and bring donations. The support and empathy for our situation is evident in these gestures At the same time I wonder are these people acknowledging the REAL homeless people? Are they giving them donations of food or hot coffee? Fo they have the same empathy for the REAL homeless who are cold, tired and hungry? 
Thursday, 28 7:45am
Today walking in the cold was hard. I did not want to get out of the sleeping bag. I did sleep well and I was warm, a luxury not afforded to too many homeless persons. But sleeping on the ground was physically hard. My muscles ache.  I feel drained and yet its time to start another long and cold day and my thoughts are full of empathy for those who do this each day. I am deeply impacted and moved by the caring and compassion showed to us by other vulnerable people. The people who frequent the streets - homeless, shelter users, people in bedsitters - all ask how we've slept. They ask if we were warm and had a good place to sleep last night. These people who do this everyday have so much concern for us, who know we will have donations of food and know we have the public support and we will return to our comforts. People so invisible and oppressed by society yet so caring, compassionate and friendly. This experience has reenforced my love for community based work and my commitment to social work with the vulnerable population.