Honor Homelessness Awareness SleepOut

Senate Resolution No. 514 BY: Senator JACOBS COMMENDING Educators Totally Committed upon the occasion of celebrating the 30th Anniversary of its Jerry Starr SleepOut for the Homeless WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that the quality and character of life in the communities across New York State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organizations and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its citizenry; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Educators Totally Committed upon the occasion of celebrating the 30th Anniversary of its Jerry Starr SleepOut for the Homeless; and WHEREAS, This year, the momentous event will be held on Friday,

February 3, 2017, at Hoover Middle School, in Tonawanda, New York; and WHEREAS, The first SleepOut was organized by the late Samuel "Jerry" Starr, a long-time teacher at Kenmore West High School and his colleagues, Steve Ash and Charles Kohler; currently, Steve Ash and his organization, Educators Totally Committed, coordinate the SleepOut each year; and WHEREAS, The Jerry Starr SleepOut allows students, faculty, family members and others from the Ken-Ton community to sleep outside and engage in the life of a homeless person, to raise funds for local homeless shelters as well as raise awareness of the plight of homelessness; and WHEREAS, The purpose of this event is to help educate the community and to remind participants that homelessness is everywhere and people are struggling to survive; those who participate are able to reflect on what they have and to consider giving to others; and WHEREAS, In the past 30 years, Educators Totally Committed has received nearly $1 million and countless donations of food, clothing, personal care items and household items such as small furniture to help the less fortunate; and WHEREAS, In 2017, Educators Totally Committed is kicking off a new initiative called Bag It, encouraging students to bring in a bag of items, whether it is canned or boxed food, personal care items, clothes or any other in-need items to donate to local organizations, such as the Ken-Ton Closet and Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District Family Support Center; and WHEREAS, There are people in need located in every neighborhood of our world community; those in need of basic everyday necessities are dependent upon the compassionate concern and action of those who are able to help, especially people who are able to support those located in their own community, as they have a clearer insight into the specific needs of the people who need the assistance; and WHEREAS, Children who learn social behaviors at a young age, and who are raised in an environment which emphasizes concern for others, are likely to continue with them into adulthood, to be utilized for the betterment of their immediate community; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Educators Totally Committed upon the occasion of celebrating the 30th Anniversary of its Jerry Starr SleepOut for the Homeless; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Educators Totally Committed.