Do you remember the times when you would walk into your house, after not being there for a long time, and would say “home sweet home”. I’m really going to appreciate this saying when I get home tonight. This experience has been amazing but I know the last 5 days only skimmed the surface of a much bigger challenge many people face on an everyday basis for much longer periods of time: months, years, an entire lifetime.

I am proud of the awareness we have raised as a community, both regionally and nationally. I want to thank Evan and Sam for being such dedicated and caring people during these past 5 days. I will remember the 5 days I spent with both of you for the rest of my life.

I am very thankful that throughout the week I was fortunate enough to know I would be going home after 5 days. I am very sad for those people who don’t have the same opportunity.

For these reasons, I will continue working towards the eradication of homelessness. Until the problem has disappeared, I will dedicate my time to visit shelters, soup kitchens and do whatever it takes to add some hope in the lives of these people. That is the same hope that got me through the 5 days. I want to provide positive change for the many people that deal with this problem on a daily basis.

Once again, thanks everyone who supported us throughout the week, the planning committee, and the participants. Thanks for the difference you have made, thanks for changing my life.

Soo…word on the street is people think I’m not looking too dirty. Well I have news for you. I am dirty so back off. Who stays clean after 4 days without a shower? As a matter of fact…

• I woke up this morning with enough wax in my ears to build a candle
• My hair had soo much grease in it that I could style the Italian Mafias hair for a month
• I could probably lube a 5 litre engine with the oil coming off my face
• I also realized sweat comes from more than 3 different parts of your body, a lot more
• and yes, the weird smell in the SBE clubs office is coming from Sam, Evan and I

So, next time you think I’m not that dirty, think back to this blog and be honest, I’m a dirty Mofo. It’s no Blue Steel, it’s Derelict.

“Grizzly Adams did have a beard” - Happy Gilmore

Wilfrid Laurier has raised $3852.67 of $5000, which is 77% of our goal for the campaign. Another important thing to mention is that tonight we have Ginny Dybenko, the Dean of The School of Business and Economics as our celebrity sleeping over this evening, hence the name of my blog “Money in Dybenko”.

If the awareness our campaign has raised could be measured in a dollar amount, our total would be well over the $5000 mark. I would like to take this moment to thank everyone who has made a food or money donation towards the campaign because they are the people who make this event worthwhile in the end. If one person who I have spoken with throughout the week approaches a person on the street feeling like they have a better understanding of what they are going through, then progress is already being made. Most importantly if people who have helped us out are able to take the same action and apply it towards helping a complete stranger who is homeless, we are already making a difference.

Thanks for coming out tonight Ginny, we appreciate your support. I’m sure it will be a riot.

“Money in the Bank” - Young Buck

John, our guest for the evening, is a Professor here at Laurier. I spent the last few hours outside with him and Evan talking to students about why we’re doing this. It was interesting to hear what the three of us had to say when asked “why do we think people are homeless?” Is it by choice? Is it because of circumstances they have no control over? The three of us reached the conclusion that people are homeless for a number of reasons. I know Sam would also agree with us.

Some people are homeless because they have no choice, they aren’t able to support themselves financially and don’t have anyone else to support them from ending up in the streets. Others suffer from mental illness and are unable to look after themselves. The odd homeless person might have too much pride to take charity and decide that their place is out in the streets. Regardless of the what the cause is, no one should have to experience the effect of homelessness.

A lot of the youth we are trying to support in this campaign go homeless because they are abused as children. There is always a way to prevent a human being from living in the streets. Our goal is to support the organizations that have the ability to provide shelter, medical attention, counseling, whatever homeless people are seeking.

Just remember, the next time you see someone homeless in the streets, don’t jump to a simple conclusion about why they are homeless. It’s probably complicated. Just remember that you can make a difference in their struggle by helping out with campaigns like this one. No, homeless people are not hopeless, lose the stigma. Yes, most of their problems can be addressed, make a difference. A person should never have to live outside long enough for it to be called home.

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” - Dalai Lama

Last night we decided to have a celebrity sleepover. If this was a Disney movie, the story would be the following.

The planning committee for 5 days, Dopey (Tayor), Sneezy a.k.a. Kicky (Jenny), Bashful (Ryan) and Happy (Jess) traveled to the house of Sleepy (Sam), Doc (Evan) and Grumpy (Me). They spent hours gathering cardboard, skids and newspaper to prepare for the cold winter night. They worked hard to prepare a big bed for everyone to stay in that evening. The dwarfs worked well together, after all they organized 5 days for the homeless. When dusk arrived all the dwarfs snuggled in with one another to keep each other warm using their body heat. Guests stopped by throughout the night to say hello. Singey (Simcoe) brought her guitar and sang songs, while Wingey (random guy from Morty’s) provided a late night snack. One dwarf after another started to fade away, sleepy being the first. The cold was closing in fast, bringing the dwarfs to decide they should fall asleep before the temperature was too low. Grumpy tussled inside his sleeping bag before resting in a small space at the bottom of the bed. Little did he know he was under Kicky, who tossed and turned in her sleep and worst of all KICKED him numerous times during the night! This wasn’t a good position for Grumpy to be in, seeing he hadn’t had much sleep the night before. That morning he was the grumpiest the others had ever seen him. His restlessness showed in his words of annoyance while he gathered his belongings and staggered off to the SBE clubs office. The other dwarfs decided they needed to show grumpy their support. Throughout the day they delegated comfortable sleeping positions, bought him food and drinks and made modifications to make the house more comfortable. Grumpy rested in the afternoon so he wouldn’t be a nuisance. Soon all he dwarfs had forgotten the incident from that morning. They were busy with planning for the days ahead, and completing homework that should have been done days before. Even Grumpy managed to cheer up.

Where do I come up with this stuff?

I managed to craft an outfit that looks like a snow manikin. If you remember the game Goldeneye for N64, picture the bad guys from the snow level when you’re trying to penetrate the silo. Have no fear, that guy isn’t going to shoot you with a Klobb, he’s just really cold, trying to manage through the - 20 below weather.

I’ve been asked a bunch of times “how did you sleep outside last night?” These are my tips, so far, if you ever sleep out into the cold like we’re doing:

1. borrow tights from your roommates girlfriend
2. drink 7 green teas a day
3. be the centre of the snuggling
4. eat a lot, the fat keeps you warm
5. use two sleeping bags, one inside the other
6. tell lots of jokes, humour keeps your mind off the cold
7. get in your sleeping bag and don’t plan on leaving it until the morning, otherwise you will lose heat
8. learn to avoid urinating for 8 hour periods, or figure out a creative way to do it in your bag
9. most importantly, always keep the cause in mind

Remember these tips, survivorman would definitely agree with me. Blog out.

“You had an extra pair of gloves this whole time!?” “Yeah, we’re in the Rockies.” -Dumb and Dumber

And so it begins, 5 days of homelessness. Tonight the temperature will be -15 with the wind chill. I’m not looking forward to it but I know it will be the worst part of a great day so far. Sam, Evan and I showed up to an opening ceremony full of supportive people, even the megaphone gave us a lot of positive feedback…haha, pun intended. I was fortunate enough to have some of my roommates and close friends on campus show up to the event too. Others have been very supportive by either loaning me some clothes or bringing me food. As a matter of fact I have an apple pie arriving in t minus 2 hours. The title of this blog, “big white boots” represents the support so many people have showed towards the campaign so far. I mentioned this event to my buddy Hoff, right away he offered to let me borrow his arctic boots and other winter gear. I’m sure it will make a big difference when the temperature drops. I’ll also be easily identifiable all week because the boots are pretty stylish, they must be Italian. Today, day 1, has been a great start to an event that will have an even stronger finish. I’m looking forward to the experience.

You must be the change you want to see in the world.
- Gandhi