“Night Without a Home” to be held Oct 23

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College and the PATH Center of Northwest Ohio Community Action Commission will sponsor “Night Without a Home,” on Saturday, Oct. 23, beginning at 5 p.m. on the campus of Defiance College. “Night Without a Home” provides an opportunity to discuss, think, and learn about rural homelessness by participating in unique events and activities.

Ninety-eight tents will be displayed on the campus lawn along Clinton Street to represent the homeless individuals and families that received emergency shelter services at the PATH Center within the last year. “Tent City” tours will educate attendees about the experiences of homeless people from our community with first-hand accounts and from dozens of stories posted for participants to read as they walk the tents.

The night begins at 5 p.m. with the opening of the resource tent and soup kitchen. The soup kitchen will provide a modest meal to participants and the public. Free-will donations will be accepted. Welcomes will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a speakers’ panel that will discuss how the area’s homeless and formerly homeless are served by the PATH Center followed by a presentation by author and advocate Cory Dobbelaere.

Hailing from the rural northwest Ohio, NotForgotten will perform at 8 p.m. The group includes Kevin Leach, Brandon Tijerina and Danny Leach and is noted for creating an unsullied, inventive sound that supports uplifting and inspiring lyrics.

The event is free and open to the public.

The public is welcome to spend the night in the tents to help gain a perspective on living without a home. For more information about “Night Without a Home,” or to reserve a tent, please contact Heather Baughman at 419-782-6962 or hgbaughman@nocac.org.

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

October 23, 2010