UCF Students Host Bingo at the Coalition for the Homeless

On Wednesday, Oct 17, Volunteer UCF hosted Bingo Night at the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida near Downtown Orlando.

Volunteer UCF promotes community service and education regarding various social issues.

“I always try to go to eye opening experiences, try to see as much of the world as I can, there’s a lot of stuff out there you don’t see on a daily basis,” said Jessica Sirianni, 19, a finance student and Forever Knights ambassador.

Over 30 people from the Coalition participated in bingo, winning either a black UCF baseball hat or a white UCF t-shirt.

From Left: Todd Currier, 19, Hunger and Homeless volunteer coordinator, hands George a black UCF hat after winning a round of bingo at the Coalition for the Homeless.

George, who didn’t want to give his last name, has been going to the Coalition for the Homeless for about a year, and said he appreciates VUCF hosting bingo, even though the shirt he won was a size too small for him.

The Coalition for the Homeless is the largest provider of homeless services in Central Florida, through providing food, shelter, housing options, education, advocacy, support services, comprehensive children’s services and case management.

“They’re a big organization that helps with hunger and homelessness in our community, and there’s a lot of homeless who come here and spend time here,” said Todd Currie, 19, Hunger and Homeless volunteer coordinator for VUCF.

According to the Coalition, the last fiscal year they provided over 245,000 nights of shelter, 79,000 nights of shelter to children and served more than 300,000 meals.

“I didn’t expect so many people, its not something you get used to, you can tell how much these guys need services, and every time you see a family out here it just breaks your heart,” Currier said.