NATCHEZ — Co-Lin students are prepared to embrace the realities of homelessness Friday night.

Copiah-Lincoln Community College Natchez will host its first Sleep Out to bring awareness to the challenges of the homeless in the area, director of public information Nancy McFarland said, by creating and staying in a makeshift homeless camp from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday.

McFarland said a January homeless survey will take place in the Miss-Lou to collect data regarding the homeless population. Plans for the survey drew the attention of student organizations, faculty and staff at Co-Lin, McFarland said, who have been inspired to raise community awareness with the Sleep Out event.

Those interested in participating or making a donation can contact Erin Delaney at 601-446-1168 or erin.delaney@colin.edu.

“The Sleep Out is in conjunction with the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness,” McFarland said. “Each participating team will receive common materials to use for shelter and will briefly experience the struggles of homelessness.

“Supper will be provided by Co-Lin staff, and guest speakers will be talking to the group about how homelessness affects the community, advocacy to end homelessness and dispelling the myths of homelessness.”