To go along with its belief of being socially merciful, Mercyhurst College helps those who suffer from lack of food and shelter.

On Monday, Oct. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 24, the cardboard village and the annual food drive will take place at Mercyhurst.

The cardboard village is where students volunteer to sleep outside in boxes to raise awareness and funds for the homeless.

The group of students, led by junior Joe Weidenboerner, will collect donations and have a bake sale to raise funds.

All proceeds will be sent to a non-profit organization for the homeless.

The cardboard village will take place outside of Zurn Hall from 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, until 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22.

The annual food drive, known as Collegiate Golden Harvest Week, is sponsored by the Second Harvest Food Bank.

The food drive is a competition among Mercyhurst, Gannon University and Penn State Behrend. While Gannon and Penn State-Behrend only collect nonperishable canned food items for one day, Mercyhurst collects cans all week.

There will be bins all around campus for students to drop off their donations. Bins will be located in buildings including Audrey Hirt Academic Building, Zurn Hall, the Herrmann Student Union and Old Main.

Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. students will go door-to-door collecting cans of food and other nonperishable food items.

All proceeds benefit the hungry and the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania.

“I feel Hunger and Homelessness Week is very important to our campus because it allows our students to step into the community and work toward a cause that helps others,” Campus Ministry graduate assistant Gretchen Yori said.

For more information about Hunger and Homelessness Week, or to find out how to help, contact Gretchen Yori at gyori82@mercyhurst.edu.