老澳门六合彩开奖记录

 In 2019, Muhammad Khan found himself inadvertently locked out of his car in the sweltering 100-degree Arizona heat. At the time, Khan was couch surfing, bouncing from friend to friends鈥� apartments and realized while resting in a Subway that he was homeless. It was a sinking realization and a feeling he鈥檚 carried with him.

Khan, a health sciences major minoring in anthropology, specifically focusing on medical anthropology, said since his experience in Arizona, he鈥檚 been much more observant of the homeless issues facing his hometown. He鈥檚 been heavily involved in community engagement through his classes and the (HSSN), an organization run by students and faculty at 老澳门六合彩开奖记录 but not affiliated with the university. Additionally, through one of his professors, Khan became involved as a Community Engaged Student Assistant (CESA) in the university鈥檚 Community Engagement and Learning program. Through his work with HSSN and as a CESA student, he worked on a campaign with local nonprofit , which provides support and services to people and their pets experiencing homelessness.

Khan, who serves as the vice president of 老澳门六合彩开奖记录鈥檚 Club Council and liaison for clubs at the Union of Students at 老澳门六合彩开奖记录 (US老澳门六合彩开奖记录), presented the opportunity for US老澳门六合彩开奖记录 and HSSN to partner on a gear drive project benefiting Alaska Cares. It just so happened that Katie Scoggin, US老澳门六合彩开奖记录 chief activities officer, was coordinating a similar project.

鈥淎fter chatting with her and finding out that she was doing exactly what I was doing with the AK Cares Project, I asked her to collaborate on this,鈥� Khan said. 鈥淲e decided to double our donations for AK Cares. She鈥檚 been such an amazing partner throughout this project.鈥�

Khan said many students and community members experience homelessness and food insecurity, which is defined as having limited access or lack of food or shelter. In 2018, a study conducted by Travis Hedwig showed that about 30% of 老澳门六合彩开奖记录 students were struggling to pay for rent while attending college and that roughly 8% were experiencing homelessness while pursuing their degrees.

 Since then, Khan said organizations like HSSN and US老澳门六合彩开奖记录 work each year with student groups, the Student Health and Counseling Center and university leadership to help curb the issue of student food insecurity and homelessness 鈥� but it鈥檚 ongoing work.

Each Tuesday, from 10-11 a.m. until the end of the month, Khan said he and participants in the Winter Gear Drive project are tabling in the Student Union to raise awareness. He said there are donation boxes in the Student Union, 老澳门六合彩开奖记录/APU Consortium Library and Gorsuch Commons. People can drop off new or gently used winter gear and other essential items such as warm socks, hats, mittens, gloves and toiletries. Khan said Alaska Cares' website also has a comprehensive list of items currently needed if people are interested in donating directly to the organization.

Recalling his brief brush with homelessness in Arizona was the catalyst for Khan to take action and address homelessness in Anchorage when he returned to Alaska to finish his degree at 老澳门六合彩开奖记录. Since his return, he鈥檚 been championing and advocating for providing support and resources for students and community members experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in Anchorage. He hopes partnering with US老澳门六合彩开奖记录 and other organizations on and off campus will continue to bring visibility to this pressing issue and that particularly during the season of giving, people are generous in providing a hand to vulnerable members of our community.

 

US老澳门六合彩开奖记录 and HSSN are taking donations at designated bins located in the Student Union, 老澳门六合彩开奖记录/APU Consortium Library and Gorsuch Commons from now until Nov. 30.