MINERSVILLE - Teenagers spent the night in cardboard boxes Friday to raise awareness about the homeless and raise funds to donate to local food pantries and the Salvation Army.
Members of the Minersville Leo Club kicked off their fourth annual 24-hour "Homeless Sleepout" at 5 p.m. Friday and will be asking drivers and those walking by for donations until about 6 p.m. today. The cardboard boxes were lined up outside the Minersville American Legion.
"It represents the homeless. It represents the people that have to sleep on the street," June Mione, club adviser, said Friday. "These kids get to feel what it is like to be homeless and what it is like to be on the street."
The Leo Club is a youth organization sponsored by local Lions Clubs as a way to give teenagers up to the age of 21 the opportunity to develop leadership and become responsible members of their communities.
Each year, a member comes up with a theme. This year it was "Change for Change."
Mione said there are about 20 members in the club. About 15 members were able to participate in the event Friday.
The teenagers also went without cellphones or any other electronics. Mione said the only thing the club brought with them Friday was water. She said they will be relying on family members or complete strangers to donate food.
Mione said the club raised about $4,500 last year with the "Homeless Sleepout" event and community donations. She said about $3,500 of that was used to purchase items for three local food pantries and the rest was donated to the Salvation Army's homeless program.
"It's our biggest event of the year and it helps the community greatly," said Gena Guzman, club vice president. "This is what our club is known for. It's an honor to be a part of it and help all the people that they do."
The teens displayed signs with statistics about homelessness in the United States. Some of the signs said 3.5 million Americans experience homelessness each year, 40 percent of the homeless are families with children, 23 percent are U.S. military veterans and 10 percent are children under the age of 12.
Devon Macon, who has been in the club three years, said it is a good cause because it affects so many people.
"I like to help out the community," Macon said Friday. "It's nice to give back to the community."
Ryan Scott, who joined the club last year, said it is different kind of fundraiser.
"It's fun and we get to give back and help out," Scott said.
Many of the teenagers Friday were in their first year as club members, such as Rebecca Andruchek and Cassidy Barton.
"It's a good cause because it is a big issue in the United States," Andruchek said.
"Not everyone knows how many people are affected by it," Barton said.