WATTS Night Out, an annual event held at Shenandoah University to raise funds and awareness for the Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter (WATTS), occurs on Friday, Nov. 12, this year starting at 7 p.m. WATTS Night Out invites SU community members, as well as people from the Winchester area, to get an idea of what homelessness is like for one night as they sleep outside in the Quad on main campus. There is also an educational component where students can learn more about WATTS and how homelessness can impact an individual.
“WATTS Night Out is only a small glimpse into some of the challenges of those facing homelessness,” said Shenandoah University Center for Civic Engagement Director Keith Jones Pomeroy. “The impact it has is raising awareness and to have students think about homelessness in a personalized way. It helps students see people experiencing homelessness in a more humane light.”
Each year, around $5,000 is raised for WATTS. “Participants can fundraise through PayPal, Venmo, checks or cash. We encourage them to reach out to
friends, family, professors, and others to help,” said Pomeroy.
The goal of this event is to raise funds for WATTS and bring awareness to the issue homelessness. The funds raised go directly to WATTS and are used throughout the season to provide shelters and resources for guests. The WATTS season runs from November to March – the coldest months of the year. WATTS provides people experiencing homelessness with overnight shelter from the cold and necessities such as warm meals.
“Through our program, we try to humanize issues facing those experiencing homelessness. WATTS Night out is not ‘playing’ homelessness, but is a small way to experience how challenging it is to sleep outside, even for one night” said Pomeroy.
This event aims to help participants understand that those who are experiencing homelessness are no less human. “When you see someone who appears to be homeless, what is your reaction? Do you look away and keep walking, or do you ask if they need assistance?” asked Pomeroy.
If you are interested in participating, please fill out the WATTS Night Out Google Form and contact the Center for Civic Engagement at serve@su.edu.
