1 Night in a Box/Poverty Simulation

1 Night in a Box/Poverty Simulation is an educational program designed to enlighten participants about the plight of poverty and homelessness. It will take place on Feb. 28 (6:00 PM)- Feb. 29 (7:00 AM). Not many people consider what it would be like to sleep in the snow or bath in the lake, and not many people have ever had to. But for the homeless population in Norman, these are only two of the many very real challenges they face; looking for shelter on an empty stomach is just part of daily life. These situations are difficult for one to understand, and therefore difficult to help until one has lived them. Community Action Ministries-(CAM) started the One Night in a Box fundraiser thirteen years ago for that very reason. The fundraiser invites the public to spend one night in the shoes of someone who is homeless. Our hope is that after spending a day without food and sleeping in a cardboard box shelter in frigid March weather, participants will gain an appreciation for the plight of those in need, and help them. 
According to 2013 data collected by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, nearly 4,400 people are considered homeless in Oklahoma. Many of these people go unnoticed and unhelped. For this reason, CAM’s main goal with this event is to educate the participants on the needs in our community and to help them be aware of their own surroundings. During the fundraiser, individuals will learn true stories of circumstances that have led to homelessness through the guest speakers from Bridges and Pivot. Additionally, participants will learn ways they can help non-profit organizations assist the homeless. We have added a poverty simulation to the event. This is a very intense program where each participant will get a packet that will tell them who they have become, and how they came to be in the situation they are in. Through the poverty simulation, participants will have to work their way through “the system” to get help. Because of all the preplanning that must take place, you must email Donna at Donna.Hooper@cam-inc.net to get on the list, by Monday, February 24, 2020, to save a spot. We will accept the first 75 people. 
Things to bring on Friday:
• Permission slip/Press release form
• Money collected ($30.00 minimum to participate) Money will go to non-profit
organizations that work to prevent homelessness. Anyone that brings more than
$150.00 will have his or her name put in a drawing for a chance to win a gift card.
• A large cardboard box or individual tent to sleep in - Don’t wait until the last
minute to find your box.
• Suggested, one roll of duct tape to put your box together
• One canned vegetable, which will be combined with everyone else’s to make
stone soup for the night’s meal
• Sleeping bag or blankets
• Wear layers of clothes, gloves & a hat