This May, the Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways Council is hosting its sixth annual Youth Homeless Experience. The overnight immersion program is designed to teach any youth in grades 2 through 12 about hunger and homelessness from those involved with the agencies and organizations that support people in these situations.
The Oneida Youth Homeless Experience will be held from 5 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2019, through 9 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at Vets Field, 360 N. Main St., Oneida, and is presented in partnership with Community Action Partnership for Madison County and Karing Kitchen.
Registrations are due by May 3 and may be handled through gsnypenn.org/YHE_Oneida.
GSNYPENN originated the event in Auburn and has expanded it to Oneida, Fort Drum and Elmira this year, working in partnership with local community organizations. The goal is to help increase awareness of the issues and support youth in making a difference in their own communities.
In the past, more than 200 people have taken part in the program. Participants hear from community leaders, complete activities focused on the issues and build a shelter for the night. The experience concludes with a hunger banquet-style breakfast, in which participants are randomly divided into socio-economic classes and fed based on demographics. Trusted and trained adult volunteers participate in activities and provide additional supervision.
Cost for the program is $8 per person. Adult chaperones are required. Each attendee is asked to bring a personal care or non-perishable food item donation to help assisting organizations.
For more information, contact GSNYPENN Partnership Outreach Manager Reenie Dailey at 315.698.9400 ext. 2990 or rdailey@gsnypenn.org.