Putting yourself in their shoes

Nearly 200 participants joined Berg Enactus for their Homelessness Simulator at Hedges Boyer Park Friday night. Among the participants, all players and coaches from the women’s basketball and softball teams were in attendance. 

Berg Enactus is an on-campus group that promotes entrepreneurial action within the local community. Their goal is to start a chain reaction that will one day translate to a global scale. Enactus students apply what they have studied in the classroom to the real world with companies, organizations and everyday issues.

Participants were able to bring a small list of accepted items including a sleeping bag, canned food items and journal/writing utensil for their overnight stay. The idea behind the “simulator” is to explore areas outside your comfort zone and put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

Enactus President Sydney Calabro said the group hopes to make a difference and start a meaningful movement that can directly help people. “The simulator was an opportunity to break the stereotypes and allow people who take their quality of life for granted to see the other side for a night,” she added.

The group also continues their ongoing winter coat drive to help the Tiffin-Seneca United Way. Donations of new or gently used coats can be coordinated by contacting Sydney at scalabro@heidelberg.edu.