TheTimesTribune.com, Corbin, KY

Features

Related Photos

  • Photo by Samantha Swindler

    1114 homeless cardboard boxes

Discussion

November 16, 2009

A taste of homelessness

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

A student resting inside a cardboard box talks on a cell phone. As this newspaper goes to press, he and about 20 other teens will be spending the night in similar boxes in the Corbin Wal-Mart parking lot, experiencing just a taste of what it’s like to sleep on the streets.

“We want to get our young people involved in learning how to reach out to the community, so this is what we consider a community fundraiser event,” said Gerron Ayento, youth pastor at Parkway Church of God.

“We’re seeing what it’s like to live a homeless lifestyle, so what we did, we call this Cardboard City.”

Life in Cardboard City isn’t exactly roughing it — students were allowed to bring iPods and cell phones, though adult supervisors instituted a “no texting” policy. Students were also treated to a firepit, live music and a “hobo stew” meal.

“We’re trying to make it as realistic as possible while still having a good time, because I still think they’re making a sacrifice being out here,” Ayento said.

Andrew Sears, Dakota Perkins and Jake Freeman were planning to be roommates, building a multi-room “condo” from donated furniture boxes.

“We’re going to try to room up,” Sears said Friday evening, adding that the point of the event was “to raise money for homeless awareness, so hopefully, when people walk by, they’ll see the donations and put some money in.”

A prior youth pastor at Parkway had started the Cardboard City tradition, which was revived this year. This was Freeman’s third stay at Cardboard City, and he knew to bundle up.

“I brought insulation. I brought the Pink Panther stuff,” he said.

Students asked for pledges from the community and Corbin Wal-Mart promised to match the money they raise. Funds will be split between London’s Christian Shelter for the Homeless and a local food pantry.

“The main goal is to start feeling empathy for those who are less fortunate than they are and to raise funds for that in the process,” Ayento said. “We just asked them to go for pledges and just do what they can, and they just grabbed a hold of it. We’re not sure of the exact amount yet, but it’s several hundred (dollars).”

Text Only
Features