ELKHART -- Many of us have probably asked ourselves what we would do if we found ourselves homeless. What about my family? How would we survive? What would it be like to live out of a box?
Many Elkhart-area agencies and organizations know all too well about this worsening social problem, and volunteers of all ages and social backgrounds designed dozens of corrugated boxes, on display at the annual Box City homeless awareness fundraising drive Friday on the Elkhart Civic Plaza.
The concepts of the boxes were as different as our perceptions of what an ideal home may be.
The children who designed Madison Center's box used patriotic red, white and blue lettering and symbolic handprints. One box had a white picket fence, and another had a Victorian theme.
Bradney McCain, a Helping HAND case manager for Individuals & Families in Transition and coordinator of Box City, said that between 30 and 40 area agencies and organizations support the homeless.
"On a national level as far as funding forces, donations are pretty slow. That's why we're doing things like this; to kind of motivate people that the need for homeless is constantly increasing and growing, but the giving of the donations is kind of slowing down," said McCain.
"We're out here having a lot of fun, said McCain, "even though the issue of homeless isn't a funny matter. We're trying to raise the community awareness, and we're trying to have fun at the same time doing it."
"It's fantastic," said Jennifer Charvat, an Emerge Ministries volunteer who was participating in Box City for the first year. "Even if people haven't stopped to get information or make a donation, they're becoming more aware of the situation. Everyone knows that it's down time, and Elkhart's in trouble, but I think pretty much you see it with your own eyes. You kind of put in the back of your mind. I think it has really opened people's eyes up."
The day featured entertainment by Hawthorne Elementary School's Roots of Rhythm Drums 2 Change a showing of the movie"The Soloist," based on a true story of a talented violin player who is mentally disabled and homeless.