It's going to be a long week for UNO's Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, but that is the point.
For the 15th year, the Pikes are teaming up with the Salvation Army for 'Just Can It,' a food drive for the Salvation Army's food pantry. Pi Kappa Alpha President Cole Richter says members will also be sleeping outside Baxter Arena to raise awareness for homelessness in our community, along with collecting food for the pantry. "After the holidays, now is the time when they're kinda low on food. So, it started back in 2003 to kinda build up their food supply at a dry and it's just kinda carried and carried and gained momentum."
Richter says spending nights outdoors helps them to understand and experience what it is like to be homeless. "We'll be sleeping in cardboard boxes outside to just kinda raise awareness on the cause. Ya know, it rains, it gets cold and we stay out there as long as we can."
Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the arena parking lot or in marked containers throughout Aksarben Village. "There will be blue Salvation Army bins for drop off donations. As of right now they're really keen on peanut butter. They're always in need of that because of the protein content. So proteins and cereal are what they're really looking for right now."
Donations can be dropped off now through Friday when the event wraps up with a free concert at Stinson Park at 6:00 featuring Omaha rockers High Heel.