Story by: Faith Callens
On November 5th, the athletics department in Montevallo’s student activity retreat center hosted a Homeless Awareness Drive to give back to the community and to help residents in need.
The drive was inspired by Jessica Mentzer, a graduate student at UM.
Mentzer said the drive was thought of from a class project that she worked on with her partner Mark Mills and said it also stemmed from her own involvement with the needy.
“I’ve worked with the homeless population specifically individuals who are struggling with legal issues and homelessness and so I just thought of that as being my advocacy project”, said Mentzer.
Several people participated in the drive such as the Montevallo faculty, staff and students, according to Mentzer.
Montevallo’s Assistant Athletics Director Ed Langham said he’s pleased with the result of the drive and glad that their department could help out.
“We’re so excited to have the homeless drive here at the SAC, to have all these participants and have the opportunity to give to those who don’t have and aren’t quite as fortunate”, said Langham.
Mentzer has partnered with several shelters but for her advocacy project, she chose the closest one to Montevallo which is called Firehouse Ministries. It is a shelter that gives a home to homeless men.
One Montevallo student said she feels this drive was a great opportunity and it was very relatable because it takes her back to a special time when she volunteered.
“One-time, back home, it wasn’t for a homeless shelter, but it was at my church and we fed needy families for Christmas and gave bikes for families in need”, said Kahliyah Berry, a first-year student.
Mentzer plans to send the donated clothes to several shelters in the Montevallo area and throughout the city of Birmingham to their local shelters. She also plans to continue her journey giving back to the citizens of Montevallo.
The Homeless Awareness drive was hosted from Nov.5th to Nov. 8th.
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