April 14, 2010
For Immediate Release
By Drew Tucker, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — While many people across the country enjoy the luxuries of having food in their refrigerator and a bed to sleep in, there are millions of others who barely make ends meet.
Campbellsville University is participating in the third Cardboard Nation: A Homeless Experience in which faculty, staff and students will experience homelessness for a night Friday, April 30-Saturday, May 1, from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. on the lawn of Stapp Hall at 102 University Drive, Campbellsville.
Green River Ministries, an organization designed to provide shelter, food and other services to homeless individuals, founded Cardboard Nation in 2008. Its purpose is to raise awareness on homeless issues and to raise funds for the Green River Ministries Homeless Shelter, Misty Curry, executive director of GRM, said.
Curry explained that those spending the night at Cardboard Nation “won’t have comforts from home.”
Each participant is asked to spend the night in a cardboard box with only their clothes and one luxury item, a blanket.
Curry said there should be no cell phones or other electronics. “We want people to have a true experience of what it’s like to live in a box,” she said.
Curry said that she would be sleeping in a box as well.
“If I don’t believe in it, how can I expect someone else to?” she said, “I’m the director of the event, and I will sleep in a box.”
Board members from GRM will also be participating.
For the past two years, Green River Ministries has raised just under $10,000. Participants are asked to find people to sponsor the cause, with a minimum fee of $25 for “rent.” There is a goal of $100 for each cardboard “home.”
“We want more community awareness,” said Curry. “The more the community knows, the more they will be willing to help.”
Campbellsville University’s Social Workers in Touch Can Help (SWITCH), an organized club from CU’s Carver School of Social Work, have helped with the Cardboard Nation all three years.
“While students are a big factor,” said Curry,” we need everybody in the community to be with it.”
There will be many activities taking place during the event.
“There will be a cardboard decorating contest and the live Christian band, Steadfast,” Curry said.
Green River Ministries believes that it a really good experience to those who participate and hopes to raise more awareness of the homeless, she said.
“We really want people to become passionate about it,” Curry said.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 3,006 students who represent 97 Kentucky counties, 30 states and 37 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2010 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 23rd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South, tied for fifth in “most international students” and fourth in “up-and-coming” schools in baccalaureate colleges in the South. CU has been ranked 17 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges® and to G.I. Jobs magazine as a Military Friendly School. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his 11th year as president.