A group of youth from St. Mary Magdalene Church in Simpsonville recently spent a weekend without adequate food or shelter to understand what it must be like to be homeless.
“At night I felt like I almost froze,” Abby Frazier, 17, said in an article from the Catholic News Agency. “I had two blankets and a yoga mat to sleep on, and I was freezing. I didn’t think it would get that cold at night. I totally sympathize now with what it must be like for people who have to sleep outside. It really opened my eyes to how they have to live to survive.”
Twenty-eight middle and high school students spent a weekend last month sleeping in cardboard boxes on the ground and depending on donated supplies for food and hygiene, in an effort to simulate life on the streets.
Youth leader Joe Maggio said the exercise is in addition to a 30-hour fast the youth undertake each year to empathize with the hungry. In addition, the youth also collect items such as blankets, clothing, shoes, food and other basic items for homeless programs, including God's Pantry, Safe Harbor, and United Ministries.
“Homelessness is out there and people don’t really talk about this, and events like this can help start the conversation,” said parent Angel Vigil.
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Local Church Youth Learn a Lesson in Homelessness
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