By Amy Garno

Staff Writer

Siena Heights University (SHU) fraternity Pi Lambda Phi set up cardboard box houses on the lawn in front of Dominican Hall Homecoming week (Oct.3rd-7th). The community was part of the fraternity’s effort to raise awareness of the homeless in Lenawee County.

It was the seventh annual Homeless for the Homeless event and all 12 fraternity members participated.  The men weathered sun, rain, wind, and the cold to display the reality of how some people live every day; some right here in Adrian.  Social psychology professor Jeff Lindstom heads up the annual Food Drive at SHU. He noted that the homeless village “Is not a part of our annual Food Drive at SHU, but I commend them for their efforts.  They are on board with the same mission.”

The 12 Phi Lambda Phi participants didn’t eat or drink unless it was virtual reality glasses given to them. They went to their classes; studied during the day and continued living like the homeless for the five days.  They didn’t even shower or shave.  Willis Sowle, one of the Phi Lambda members, noted, “I know how they feel.  It is not right to make fun of them.  Now, I will stop and give them food or money to help them.  I know what it’s like to be in their shoes.”

The fraternity group had a drop off box for food and clothing in front of their camp and a can for money donations.  The food was given to The Daily Bread, a food pantry in Adrian, Mich., and the clothes and money to the Salvation Army. This year’s event took in more food, money, and clothing donations than it has in the past.  This is partly due to the advertising they received from WLEN radio station encouraging the local community to support the Phi Lambda Phi efforts.

Adam Bauer, another Phi Lambda member, said, “Students would come up and ask us what we were doing and we were able to explain to them about what homeless people really go through.  We know; we lived homeless for a while”.

Phi Lambda Phi, founded in 1895 by Levi, Warner and Fisher, is the first fraternity to be nonsectarian.  They are unlike most fraternities in that they do not discriminate on race, religion, creed or sexual orientation.  They are a social service fraternity based on the development of man and the elimination of prejudice.