Though our theme “Cooler by the Lake'' showcases Lake Michigan's beauty and the calming nature it provides in such a modernized and developed area such as Chicago, it is important to acknowledge that the "cooler" weather by the lake is harmful to some folx. Wind Chills coming off the Great Lakes are some of the strongest in all the US, making drastic temperature drops near these bodies of water frequent. During the already harsh midwestern winters, temperatures can reach record lows due to windchill, notably the Polar Vortex, which inconvenienced or devastated many in the winter of 2019.

 

A 2015 article from the Chicago Tribune found 5,329 Chicago residents living in homeless shelters, with nearly 1,000 others unable to be sheltered and living on the streets each night. With all possible efforts that could be done, we found the most immediate accommodation we could provide to these people is a philanthropic endeavor to bring more warmth to their bodies on cold winter nights.

 

As part of our invitation to RBC, we include a call to action to be more aware of homeless populations in cities and towns around one’s school. We kindly ask delegations to consider donating clothes, winter gear, and/or blankets to a shelter.