Steve Ash has a plan for helping the homeless — and he wants to spread it worldwide. Since 1988, the Kenmore Teachers Association retiree, with a Buffalo-area group called Educators Totally Committed, has organized a sleepout on the first Friday of February to raise awareness of the homeless in his community. Ash is now working with UNESCO — the United Nations Educational Social and Cultural Organization — to designate the first Friday in February as "Worldwide School Day to help People in Need."

"We want people to come together worldwide on a single day to raise money for the homeless in their communities," said Ash. "It could be any activity that helps the homeless."

The February sleepouts started after Jerry Starr, a fellow Kenmore TA retiree, forgot his gloves one day and shivered mightily. "He said, 'Let's do something to help people in need,'" said Ash.

Months later the Kenmore West school district's first sleepout took place with 22 participants, raising about $1,500. The following year, a group from the neighboring Clarence school district staged a sleepout of their own.

"They've been going ever since," said Ash, explaining that organizers procure cardboard boxes, light oil-drum fires and layer on clothing for the events, which raise roughly $20,000. The idea for February was that homeless people are vulnerable when charitable donations typically falter after the holidays.

"Wherever you go there are people in need," Ash said. "If educators can help kids become aware of needs in their own communities, maybe in 30 or 40 years our society will be a nicer place." For information about ETC, you can contact Ash at (716) 694-4492.