Cardboard City raises homelessness awareness

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Students built makeshift dwellings using boxes, scissors and tape to raise awareness about social issues and to defend against the cold.

The sixth annual Cardboard City 24-hour event, part of the Volunteer Center’s Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week, started at 7 p.m. Tuesday on the sidewalk west of the Charles V. Park Library.

While the event Tuesday night was centered on sidewalk chalking, construction and small-group reflection, Today’s proceedings will be dedicated to advocacy. Participants will distribute fliers and at 6 p.m. a candlelight vigil will be held in respect for those affected by hunger and homelessness.

Danielle Schmutz, alumna and current program manager at the Volunteer Center as part of the AmeriCorps*VISTA program, said more than 200 students signed up to participate in the event, many more than in previous years.

“Typically we have 30 to 40 students sign up — today we have 202,” she said. “The first year there were eight or 10 people who attended, so it’s cool to see how it’s grown exponentially.”

Grant junior Stephanie Pocsi was taking part in the event for her third year. While pulling out strips of packaging tape she talked about the evolution of her cardboard shelter’s design. Her shelter this year incorporates a cardboard floor, flaps to cover heads, and enough room for residents to heat each other by cuddling.

“Every year your design gets a little bit easier and a little more advanced,” she said.

Pocsi said the event makes the reality of homelessness more tangible for participants and students who walk by the Cardboard City.

“Actually sleeping outside is worse than it sounds,” she said. “Seeing all of the boxes is really powerful.”

Like Pocsi, Muskegeon freshman Felicia McCrary was involved in homelessness awareness in high school. McCrary said friends on her floor told her not to participate, but she thought it would be a powerful experience.

“There are so many people out there who don’t have the choice,” she said.

McCrary said the event was important for raising awareness about social issues, but also played an important role as a networking event for students interested in advocacy.

“You make a bunch of new friends and meet a lot of people who are on the same page or getting there,” she said.