Students prepare cardboard boxes for sleeping.
MU students will spend the week in cardboard boxes to raise awareness for homeless.
By Colleen Hogan
Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 7:56 p.m.
Read more: Local, Community, Education
COLUMBIA -- Some hearty University of Missouri Columbia students will bare the cold and rain this week; sleeping outside in cardboard boxes to bring awareness of the homeless in our community.
Members of the school's Habitat for Humanity club will sleep in boxes on the Lowry Mall until Friday morning.
It's part of their “Shack in a Box" campaign. The students hope to raise $5,000 this week, which they'll donate to the local "Show-Me Habitat" chapter, which builds houses for deserving families in the community.
"It struck me as something really cool that you could do to raise awareness in a unique way, and kind of attention getting way,” said McClain Thompson, a participating student. “Not to bring attention to ourselves, but to bring attention to the cause of homelessness and poor, substandard housing issues in our community and nation."
About five students are planning to sleep all week in the boxes, even though rain and cold temperatures are forecasted.
"We're gonna make the best of the conditions,” said Jack Campbell, a participating student. “We'd rather be cold than wet, but if we get both, then we'll do it with a smile."
The students will spend most of their time outside, except for when they have to go to class. To further simulate homelessness, they group says they'll only eat donated food.
If you'd like to donate food, you can call Julie Alexander, who is the supervisor at 573-882-1550. Checks can be made out to Mizzou Habitat.
