Boxed in to Help Homeless

BURLEIGH – The field next to The Lighthouse Church on Route 9 was muddy in spots. That included large puddles of water that challenged one’s ability to keep dry while walking between rows of cardboard “houses.”
Being homeless, even in springtime, is no picnic, especially if home is made of paper and the weather is uncooperative. As a way to remind everyone of the basic hardships that the homeless must endure in Cape May County, Family Promise of Cape May County held its annual Cardboard City event over the April 28 weekend. 
This encampment “is a homeless awareness event focused on educating our community on the realities of childhood homelessness and sharing how Family Promise serves these homeless families in our community,” according to the Family Promise website. 
The idea is that ”residents” of the city will raise money among their friends and peers that is donated in the form of “rent” for a small patch of grass where residents build their shelter with cardboard, duct tape, and whatever decorations and messages they choose to add to their homestead.
Maryann Castagnetta, president of Family Promise of Cape May County, oversaw the construction of the homes as the mostly younger residents of the “city” erected shelters and decorated with designs and expressions of hope and support for the homeless in their communities.
According to Castagnetta, the evening included contests for the” best box created, the most money raised, and best slogan created.”
Dinner for the participants included a soup line, while live music created a festival-like atmosphere.
As one wandered through the city, they could only wonder what moved those young people to give up their weekend to sleep (if possible) under a cardboard box in such uncomfortable conditions. One young participant spoke about her sister who was nearly homeless at one time but was able to take temporary shelter in churches until she found a permanent home.
Another teen also had an uncle who was homeless from time to time because of his opioid addiction. It seems homelessness is only one crisis away from many people that anyone might interact with daily.
For more information about Family Promise, visit: http://www.familypromisecmc.org/
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.