Temple students are helping donate to Jenna’s Blessing Bags — here’s how you can too

In early September, Jenna Burleigh was tragically taken away from our community.

She had just begun her first year at Temple as a film and fashion major after graduating from Montgomery County Community College.

Jenna was just 22.

Jenna was described as a free spirit by a friend, and she was open with everyone and didn’t care who you were. As long as you treated people right―she was cool with you.

Temple President, Richard M. Englert, released a statement before her vigil mentioning Temple's plans for remembering Jenna. He also stated that he spoke to Jenna's father.

"I spoke with Jenna’s father earlier this week, and I was most impressed with the family’s strength and their commitment to continuing Jenna’s legacy," Enlgert said. "In this vein, I ask that you please consider joining me in making a memorial contribution to Jenna’s Blessing Bags for the Homeless, a very worthy charity designated by Jenna’s family. Checks can be made payable to 'Univest Foundation—Jenna’s Blessing Bags' and mailed to Univest Foundation, 14 N. Main St., Box 197, Souderton, PA, 18964."

Although, we can donate by sending contributions directly to Univest Foundation, there is a way Temple students can help Jenna's Blessings Bags.

What Temple students are doing in her honor

Owls Helping the Homeless was created after a group of Temple students decided to choose Jenna's Blessing Bags as their choice of charity for their Entrepreneurial Marketing class.

Kierstin Anderson, Furkan Celik, Gerard Lang, Dan Knott, and Quan Nguyen were assigned the "10-10-10" project together.

The goal of 10-10-10 project is to create 10 student teams per class section, each of which is given $10 seed money and tasked to multiply that by at least a factor of ten by the end of the semester.

The project must be focused on “doing good” and raising money for a charity.

The Tab Temple spoke to the Temple students working to organize donations for Jenna's Blessings Bags while also bringing awareness to this cause.

Why did they choose Jenna's Blessings Bags?

According to Kierstin, when they first started the class, their professor sent out a survey about which topic they cared about. Everyone in the group were passionate about helping out the homeless, and they chose to use this topic as their project.

"One of the guys from our group, Gerard, went to high school with Jenna Burleigh and he remembered that she had a charity called Jenna's Blessing Bags, which makes survival backpacks for Philadelphia's homeless in the Winter. We thought it was a great idea considering what happened, and it was another way to honor her life." said Kierstin.

"Jenna had an awesome personality that was manifested weekly on our school morning show, 'Red Alert.' She was the star of the show. While I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing her on a personal level, her brilliant personality and deep compassion for others inspired me to take action in support of Jenna’s Blessing Bags," Gerad said "As a fellow graduate of Souderton Area High School, I can confidently say that the entire Souderton community will be eager to contribute any way possible."

Kierstin also states, "It's really great. It feels amazing that we can contribute to something that Jenna started and honor her memory in this way. However, the best feeling comes from knowing how many homeless people we're going to help this winter. As a Philadelphia resident, you pass so many homeless people and want to help, but really don't know how. It feels awful. Jenna figured out how."

What should we know about Owls 4 Homeless?

Owls 4 Homeless will be having two different types of fundraisers. Every Monday, the group will host an Open Mic nights at Saxby's from 7-9 p.m.

All students and musicians are welcomed to come to the open mic night and donations will be accepted throughout the night.

Owls 4 Homeless is accepting cash donations and Venmo as well.

Owls 4 Homeless will also be working with the Residence Hall Association to put donation boxes in the lobbies of each dorm. They will have flyers and posters of acceptable donations for Jenna's Blessing Bags for residents to donate in their designated areas.

Another huge event to raise money for the charity is the 70s night at the Draught Horse on December 2, 2017 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The group brainstormed this idea after speaking to a friend of Jenna who told them that Jenna had thrown an event similar to this at her favorite bar at her hometown in Souderton.

They will also be having a huge raffle at the event with a DJ playing all 70s music throughout the night.

The Tab Temple reached out to Jenna's aunt, Maureen Zazyczny who was pleased to hear about Owls 4 Homeless and will inform her whole family of the student's efforts.

How you can help Owls 4 Homeless and Jenna's Blessing Bags

If you're thinking of donating supplies, here a few things you can donate.

Staying warm

Wool (Beanie Hat), Socks, gloves, scarves, and blankets.

Food and drink

Quality instant coffee, cranberry juice, energy drinks, water bottles, beef jerky, peanut butter, dried fruit, trail mix/nuts, snack cookies/crackers, applesauce/ pudding cups, protein powder packets, fast food gift cards, and eating utensils.

Treats

Chocolates, mints, and chewing gum.

Splurge

Starbucks gift card, and a compact reusable bag

Toiletries

Multi-purpose wipes, chapstick, facial wipes, moisturizer, sunscreen, comb, tissues, razors, deodorant, toothbrush & toothpaste, tampons & pads, bandages, Tylenol/Ibuprofen/Advil packets, and Tide-To-Go/detergent sticks.

Survival

First aid kit, water bottle with built in filter, reusable travel coffee mug, blankets, flashlights, trash bags, heat-pack, and multi-purpose tools.

Help them connect

Journal & pen, stationary, stamps, and pre-paid phone card

If any student has a question for the group, you can email them at [email protected] or message them on their Twitter.

@gailvivarx3