For a third year, Santa Clarita Valley nonprofit organization Family Promise of SCV invites local residents to create and spend the night in a temporary “Box City” set up at Bridgeport Park in Valencia on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29-30.
Starting at 4 p.m. Saturday and ending at 9 the next morning, Box City residents will experience what it’s like to be homeless for that one night, raising awareness and funds to support Family Promise of SCV’s efforts to help homeless families in our community.
Family Promise is dedicated to providing homeless families with interim shelter and support services, with the goal of transitioning the family into permanent housing. Family Promise provides comprehensive assistance for these families in a manner that offers hope, preserves dignity and promotes self-sufficiency.
Last year’s event drew about 250 “Box City” residents and raised about $35,000 for the organization’s resource center, according to Gary Choppé, chairman of the 2012 event.
“It’s where anyone who has a heart for the homeless — individuals, youth groups, families who would come out and participate and help us raise money for Family Promise,” Choppé said.
Participants set a goal to raise $100 in pledges and contributions, then sleep overnight in a cardboard box “home” as a resident of Box City. Those who raise $100 will also receive a free Box City T-shirt. Students younger than 18 need a chaperone for their group.
Participants must bring their own “dwelling” — a cardboard box, pop-up tent or a sleeping bag — and will eat a modest homeless shelter-style dinner Saturday night and a light breakfast Sunday morning.
There will be live music by local favorite Johnny Strat, original Drifters member Bobby Hendricks, contemporary Christian rock band The Blessing, the Northpark Community Church Worship Team and the OLPH Youth Choir.
There will also be a cardboard box decoration contest, games and other activities and entertainment for participants.
Deadline for online registration was Sept. 20, however, registrations will also be accepted at Box City on Sept. 29. Download the form here. Team and family members are encouraged to participate in groups. For those who can’t make it to the event, a donation can be made online.
Find Bridgeport Park at 23520 Bridgeport Lane, just off Newhall Ranch Road, in Valencia.
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Can’t figure out how to help them so let’s all mock them instead. I know quite a few homeless people who live around my place of business. Sleeping in a box for a night in the safe surrounds of a park are nothing compared to what they go thru. Let’s see everyone go without money or food for a week, only one set of clothes, no cell phones or electronic gadgets, and sleep in someone’s yard or a bus bench. Until they do that they have not truly experienced what it is like and every homeless person around should feel offended by this…
ok cool so what are you doing for those who are sleeping near your business? are you the one who is giving them a meal everyday? do you really know them? have you ever spent a lunch with one of them or offered them your home? i have made lunch and sat and ate with people who are homeless and they think its a great fundraiser
your not the voice for the homeless
who are you to say they are offended
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2 Comments
Can’t figure out how to help them so let’s all mock them instead. I know quite a few homeless people who live around my place of business. Sleeping in a box for a night in the safe surrounds of a park are nothing compared to what they go thru. Let’s see everyone go without money or food for a week, only one set of clothes, no cell phones or electronic gadgets, and sleep in someone’s yard or a bus bench. Until they do that they have not truly experienced what it is like and every homeless person around should feel offended by this…
ok cool so what are you doing for those who are sleeping near your business? are you the one who is giving them a meal everyday? do you really know them? have you ever spent a lunch with one of them or offered them your home? i have made lunch and sat and ate with people who are homeless and they think its a great fundraiser
your not the voice for the homeless
who are you to say they are offended