A local homeless shelter will soon see a surge in donations after a UF fraternity's weekend fundraiser.
UF's chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity raised about 300 pounds of clothing, 25 boxes of nonperishable food and $250 on Friday night for its 12th annual Sleepout for the Homeless program.
About 350 people gathered on Turlington Plaza from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. to show their support for the cause. The fraternity provided pizza from Hungry Howie's, music and a giant screen for people to play video games.
Alpha Phi Alpha President Michael Mitchell said all donations would go to the St. Francis House, a Gainesville organization that provides support services to the homeless.
Mitchell said it's hard not to notice the homeless problem in Gainesville, but it's even harder for people to imagine what it's like to be homeless themselves.
Joseph Akoni, the fraternity's treasurer, said he never realized the extent of Gainesville's homeless problem until participating in the event. Akoni said most people have a lot of clothing they don't wear and said that it's important to give to others who may need it.
Jamie Davis, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, said she sees homeless people everywhere she goes in Gainesville.
About 1,000 homeless people live in Alachua County, according to city and county statistics.
In 2005, the city implemented a 10-year plan to end homelessness. Some of the plan's goals include providing more beds, expanding affordable housing, increasing access to free medical care and reducing the number of homeless arrests.
Samuel Green, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, said he recently talked to a man who had just been evicted from his home and had no place to go. Green said his experience made him realize how common homelessness is in Gainesville and how easy it is for people to lose everything.
"We need to do as much as we can to change it," Green said.
