On Sept. 25, the children will spend the night outside St. Bernard’s School in cardboard boxes they’ve decorated to raise awareness of the plight of the homeless. Each kid is asked to raise at least $50 in order to participate.
“It’s really great the way the kids support us,” McHenry House director Judith Odegaard said. “When they leave at 8 in the morning, they go ‘Oh it’s so cold; I never knew it was so cold at night.’”
Odegaard said she’s hoping to raise at least $30,000 through Kids in a Box this year. Usually, the family shelter takes in about $15,000 to $20,000 each year from the event.
Once things get set up at 4 p.m., members of the McHenry House talk about what it’s like to be homeless and explain what the organization does. After that, kids watch a movie and dance to music before going to sleep.
“They’re very respectful, the kids that have participated,” Odegaard said. “We’ve never had any trouble or rowdiness.”
The event was started 10 years ago by Rainey Lomolino, then a 9-year-old girl. She and some friends lived in cardboard boxes in Lincoln Park, raising more than $9,000.
Though Odegaard said she’s still taking applications for children who want to participate in the event, spots are filling up quickly. They can apply in person at the McHenry House, 739 A St.
For information: McHenry House, 835-2328.
Hope the young generation will ease their discomfort this winter.
Rainey Lomolino, then a 9-year-old girl, saw the writing on the wall.
Her efforts are snowballing into a success story!
Help this year, it could be you next year?
CN
I hope they will be successful in raising the $30,000. My hope is their success will far exceed their expectations!!!
So proud of today's children and the seed for this cause that was started 10 years ago by Rainey Lomolino, then a 9-year-old girl. She and some friends lived in cardboard boxes in Lincoln Park, raising more than $9,000.
Go for it, and good luck!!!!
CN