Walking across sunny Aldrich Park last week, I was stopped in my tracks by the sight of a makeshift graveyard. It shocked me into reevaluating the simple things we take for granted- having a home, a roof over our heads, food, safety. Given the “Most Promising New Group Award for 2011,” the UCI club Helping Hearts for the Homeless lined Aldrich’s paths with worn shoes and tattered toys, each attached with messages and facts dispelling myths and raising awareness about growing homelessness in the U.S. today. These admirable students are dedicated to bettering the lives of homeless individuals who are often neglected and abused by society. The visual presence of their work in Aldrich Park was a reminder that this is an issue we simply can’t ignore.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC Irvine chapter.