Cardboard Campout

Event raises money for local homeless organization. By Colin Anderson.

Raising funds for local causes usually involves a dinner, golf outing, monetary pledge or auction. You are told and shown images of how your donations are helping our community, but rarely are you able to step into the shoes of those you are helping. Family Promise of North Idaho is looking to do just that with their 6th Annual Cardboard Box City. “People choose to come out and sleep in a cardboard box for the night, and they are back to their own bed the next night. Our clients don’t have that choice,” said Executive Director Cindy Wood.

Family Promise takes in homeless families in the area and provides them with basic necessities like meals, beds, bathrooms, and security for their family. During the up to 90 day stay clients are provided these basic necessities so they can focus on emotional stability, job training, and other important family dynamics.

When we think of the homeless, we typically think of individuals. But according to James Curb, Homeless Liaison for District 271, at last count there were 299 homeless children in the Coeur d’Alene School District alone. “People don’t want to be seen during the lowest time in their life, and those people do a very good job of blending in,” said Wood. These children are some of the more than 1.6 million in America that will experience homelessness this year, and Family Promise is committed to bringing that number down.

Cardboard Box City is a fun, yet eye-opening event that raises awareness and funds to help end homelessness in our community. Participants reach out to their friends, neighbors and community businesses and ask for pledges in exchange for sleeping outside in a cardboard box on a cold October night. The family friendly event brings people from all walks of life together for a common goal. Dinner and breakfast are provided soup kitchen style, and groups build up their own miniature cardboard communities. Families that have utilized Family Promise will share their stories as well. “We will have sleeping bags, restrooms, and security around the event which is great, but again these are basic things that those we serve don’t have on a nightly basis,” said Wood.

Wood remembers a specific instance at the event a couple of years ago that really hit home with her. A pre-school aged child got scared of the dark and could not be calmed down. The family ended up calling her grandmother to pick her up and take her to her bed. “That situation really impacted me to think there are young children out sleeping in cars afraid of the dark but without a safety net,” said Wood.

If you would like to participate in this year’s Cardboard Box City you can contact Family Promise through their website www.familypromiseni.org or by calling 208.777.4190. Start by getting pledges from your friends and neighbors. Event organizers are hoping to have more than 100 campers and have set a goal of raising $20,000. The event is Friday, October 3rd. There are prizes for the most creative box design, raising the most donations, the largest group and more. “Take a stand against homelessness by sleeping in a box,” said Wood.

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