Students sleep outside to raise awareness about homeless vets - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

Students sleep outside to raise awareness about homeless vets

Posted: Updated:
By Michelle Lady - bio | email

  • Most Popular StoriesMost Popular Stories

  • Tuesday, June 18 2013 11:13 AM EDT2013-06-18 15:13:35 GMT
    One person is in critical condition and another behind bars after a shooting in Moss Point. According to Police Chief Keith Davis, a man from Pascagoula was shot twice in the upper torso around 9:30pm
    One person is in critical condition and another behind bars after a shooting in Moss Point. According to Police Chief Keith Davis, a man from Pascagoula was shot twice in the upper torso area around 9:30 Monday night. Investigators say it happened on Church Street near the Hall Street intersection in a car.

  • Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:50 AM EDT2013-06-18 10:50:04 GMT
    A Gulfport man's front yard turned into a movie set Monday, as a film crew for "Category 5" took over.
    Fred Bradley, 77, never imagined his home of nearly 50 years would end up being the set of a movie much less having actor Burt Reynolds play in a scene at his house.

  • Tuesday, June 18 2013 11:37 AM EDT2013-06-18 15:37:31 GMT
    Some Jackson County supervisors don't want to see people carrying guns in parks and other public areas, despite a new gun law in the state.
    Some Jackson County supervisors don't want to see people carrying guns in parks and other public areas despite a new gun law in the state. As WLOX has reported, starting July 1st Mississippians will be able to openly carry a gun and other weapons with or without a permit.   Some Jackson county leaders want to create a local ordinance to keep weapons in check.
    •   
BAY ST. LOUIS, MS (WLOX) -

Our Lady Academy students decided to take action after learning from the Department of Veterans Affairs in Biloxi that there are at least 300 to 400 homeless veterans in South Mississippi.

More than a dozen young ladies and a few faculty members braved the chilly weather in sleeping bags Saturday night to understand a little bit of what too many of our country's heroes are experiencing every night.

Senior Mary Margaret Gagnet said, "When you step back and look into your life, you realize the things you have that other people don't and we need to make sure we can provide for people who can't provide for themselves."

The students collected pledges from family and friends by telling them about their event and by doing this they not only raised awareness, but they will also be sending two veterans on the next Honor Flight.

Wayne Lennep with the Mississippi Gulf Coast Honor Flight said, "It makes you glad to know they are students and they get it. And they care enough to go out because that's hard work. A lot of people don't have a lot of money to give these days, and when you can go out and raise money that means you put out the effort to do it."

Seventh grader Sarah Pierce raised $750 all on her own.

"My grandfather and other grandfather are veterans and I know how much it would mean to them, it feels amazing," Pierce said.

It really hit home for these students to hear from a veteran, who found himself homeless after returning home from war and not being able to find a job he was qualified for.

Gagnet said, "The fact that he was able to keep living his life and that is something I strive for, strength like that is impeccable. He really touched me."

These young ladies hope their night outside will also touch others.

Senior Kendell Ritten said, "They need to do something about it, take responsibility for knowing this is happening and get more involved and do more service."

Copyright 2012 WLOX. All rights reserved.