The \u201cHelping the Homeless Students Associate Group\u201d will host their sixth annual fundraiser featuring a silent auction, an opportunity drawing, and student testimonials on Sunday in an effort to help LBCC\u2019s homeless students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The purpose of the event is to raise money and awareness for students who are struggling with housing and food insecurities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the coordinators for the event is Dr. Virginia Baxter, an LBCC Board of Trustees member, who is also active in numerous Long Beach organizations and has a history of helping students in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the midst of the pandemic, many students found themselves unemployed and unable to pay rent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany people lost their jobs and even with the eviction moratorium, some people still got evicted and lost their homes,\u201d said Baxter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All of the event\u2019s proceeds will be used to help pay for students\u2019 basic needs such as rent, groceries, gas cards, school supplies, emergency housing and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also helping with the event is Jeffrey Sabol, a professor and librarian at LBCC. Sabol wishes to help students achieve their goals, no matter the circumstances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe main goal of this foundation is to keep (the students) in school and keep them progressing in their education while they overcome life changing obstacles,\u201d said Sabol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aside from raising money, another key part of the fundraiser is the student testimonials, where those who have benefitted from the foundation\u2019s help in the past have a chance to show their gratitude toward the donors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe money is secondary, but coming to the event and seeing people that we\u2019ve helped really inspires people to go out and do more,\u201dsaid Sabol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even with much awareness being raised, the stigma surrounding these students still exists. Baxter claims that these students are far beyond this stigma because they are determined to achieve a brighter future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA lot of people think that these homeless students are either drug addicts or mentally ill. But if they were, they wouldn\u2019t be going to school trying to better their lives,\u201d said Baxter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n