Unique Service Project Helps Teens Understand Poverty in America

One of the most disturbing problems in a wealthy country like the United States is the number of citizens who live in poverty. According to the Census Bureau, 35 million people live below the poverty line including 12.9 million children. With unemployment continuing to rise in California and predictions of slow economic growth expected over the next few years, the youth of today must worry about the long term effects of this current economic transition. As they prepare to become our leaders of tomorrow, the issue of poverty in the United States will be a part of their future. To gain true knowledge about homelessness in America, the young men of Crespi Carmelite High School are participating in a unique service project that requires them to walk in the shoes of the homeless.
On Saturday, November 14, 2009, 14 juniors from Crespi Carmelite High participated in a service program called “Cardboard Tent City”, which was created by Campus Minister, Chris Knabenshue. The program was designed to help teenagers understand the realities of poverty. They stood in solidarity with the poor for one day and night. To truly live like the homeless, each student spends a night in a cardboard box. The rules were simple, get a box, wear two layers of clothes and bring some newspapers for a pillow. No modern conveniences allowed.
Their day began with a visit to Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. Their first stop was the Catholic Worker Soup Kitchen where the students ate lunch with the homeless. Following lunch, the students learned more about the Catholic Worker Program. But they still had more to do before leaving. Partnering with The Green Bag Program, students came prepared for Skid Row with two care packages of food and clothing for the homeless. The Green Bag Program provided two more bags to each student. Crespi junior, Chris Loman said, “The experience was real. The hands-on approach was really effective. But we would need a truckload of more than a thousand bags to help everyone there.”
After distributing the Green Bags, the group returned to the Crespi campus to view a film by the San Damiano Foundation called, A Distressing Disguise. The documentary discussed the harsh realities of survival at Skid Row and the difficulty of surviving a night there. Upon the film’s conclusion, the students began the final stage of their journey. Each one curled up inside a cardboard box for the night in the student parking lot.
The following morning, Father Paul Henson, O. Carm., Principal, ended the “Cardboard Tent City” experience by celebrating a Mass of thanksgiving. Loman said, “It was cold and I could not sleep”, even though he wore two layers of clothes. Chris felt his experience was extremely rewarding because, “It was a life changing event. Cardboard Tent City set life in place for me and widened my vision of the world.” Crespi Carmelite High School has scheduled two more “Cardboard Tent City” events in 2010.