Norman — “This is our sixth years to do it and we’re glad to have 33 degrees,” said Donna Hooper, as she huddled close to a fire in the forefront of cardboard boxes, hastily created to provide shelter for 30 youth.
Hooper, executive director for Community Action Ministries, teamed up with the Norman Network of Youth Ministries to host “One Night in a Box” for members of area church youth groups. Last year, Hooper said, the temperature was 17 degrees. The year before that, it snowed on the teens.
The youth arrived at University Christian Church at 7:30 p.m. Friday with plans to stay until 7:30 a.m. today.
The premise of the night is to educate the youth about the reality of homelessness, giving them a chance to experience some of the situations those facing homelessness might encounter.
For instance, the students were asked not to eat Friday during the day. Around 9:30 p.m. Friday, soup, created from a combination of canned goods brought by the youth, was served to the teenagers. Each participant ate the soup from one of the cans that had provided the hodge-podge of a meal.
The students also constructed their own shelters for the night, using only cardboard, duct tape, plastic and newspapers. Hooper said they were only allowed to bring a sleeping bag or blanket. No pillows or electronics were allowed.
Michael Beck, a freshman at Norman High School and member of New Life Bible Church, decided to forgo these luxuries he has at home to come spend a pillowless night in the cold Friday.
“Support a cause, get away from my parents, why not?” he said, listing his reasons to participate. His first year at the event, Beck admitted he has had limited interaction with the homeless population and thought he could learn from the experience.
Abi Hooper has been participating in the “One Night in a Box” since it started. Abi, an eighth-grader at Alcott Middle School and member of Antioch Community Church, said throughout her years as a participant, she has seen the experience make an impact on those who come.
“I hear kids talking about it, how it changed their view on homeless people,” she said.
Each participant was asked to bring $30 to the event, whether they provided the money themselves or were sponsored. By 9 p.m. Friday, Hooper reported that the students had raised more than $1,400 for local agencies that assist the homeless population.
Aaron Wright 366-3533 pop@normantranscript.com
