Roland Emerson, left, and Josh Diiorio are among the students living outdoors this week.

About 10 students are sleeping outside this week as part of the annual Five Days for the Homeless campaign.

The students are voluntarily living outdoors near Taro Hall to raise money for Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold. The fundraiser, hosted by the Brock Business Students’ Association, is part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness of homelessness. The Brock students hope to raise $2,000.

The campaign started on Monday with eight students but has grown to around 10 each night, said Patricia Bernardo, charity co-ordinator for the Brock Business Students’ Association. Participants must continue with their usual routines, including classes and assignments, but brave the elements and rely on handouts of food and drinks.

“We want students to know what Five Days is, and to know that there is an issue with homelessness here,” Bernardo said.

Roland Erman, a residence don and fourth-year Psychology student, camped out with the group Wendesday night, and will be out there tonight. There have been plenty of handouts from fellow students, from sandwiches to “as many Tim Horton’s Timbits as possible,” said Erman, 23. “I’m never eating them again after this.”

But even with spring in the air, the nights are cold, he said. They stay huddled in sleeping bags.

“I’m wearing five different layers and two pairs of socks,” he said.

Josh Diiorio, a first-year Continuing Education student, joined the effort after he wandered by on Monday evening. Diiorio is a musician who often busks in downtown St. Catharines. He has gotten to know some of the homeless people there.

Niagara’s real homeless don’t have the benefit of a student body of peers to give them food and money, he said. It’s given him a new appreciation of their plight.

“I’ve been doing this for two nights,” said Diiorio, 18. “I can’t even imagine sleeping on a bench downtown in mid-December.”

The campaign wraps up at 5 p.m. Friday. As of Thursday afternoon, the students had raised 54 per cent of their goal.

To donate or learn more, visit Brock’s Five Days for the Homeless page.