College students from across San Diego gathered to support the third annual Embrace the Streets event on Nov. 12.

The charity drive, hosted by the Embrace organization, provided the local homeless population with blankets, clothing, and food at a distribution site on the corner of 16th Street and Island Avenue.
City College students worked with SDSU, UCSD, and USD students to feed the homeless and keep them warm during the cold winter nights. City College gathered goods during its clothing, blanket and sheet drive hosted on campus from Oct. 31 through Nov. 4.

Among the City College organizers was Public Relations Officer Juan Carlos Cruz, who believes that being homeless doesn’t take away one’s dignity.

“I don’t like to call them homeless,” Cruz said. “I like to call them economically challenged.”

Tents were set up at the event so that those in need could shelter themselves from the bad weather.

“The most moving part for me was that it was raining,” Cruz said. “Living on the streets is hard, but no matter what your situation is, there are programs out there that can help.”

According to an Embrace press release, “Embrace is a nonprofit organization… [that] creates a community outreach/service-learning model that utilizes college students to remedy problems within civilian and veteran communities on a volunteer basis.”

Trung Nguyen, president of the Inter-Club Council at City College, was also present at the event.

“[The most meaningful part] was handing out clothes to the homeless,” Nguyen said. “You might think [old clothes] are just trash, but the homeless would be happy to have it.”

Those wanting to get involved with the Embrace organization or with other charitable organizations affiliated with City College may contact Cruz at 619-388-3353.

“You meet great people and form great relationships,” Cruz said. “I want the school to know that we’re out there kicking ass for our students and the community.”