By JANE HOUIN
Ohio Correspondent

TRENTON, Ohio — Imagine an FFA program where participation has doubled in each of the last three years. If you’re thinking this must be some kind of fun trip or adventure, you couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Since 2006, Edgewood-Butler Tech FFA students have been collecting raising money for the opportunity to spend the night as a homeless person through their Cardboard City project. During that time, the students have collected over $25,000 to help local families who are struggling to pay bills, buy clothes, and have Christmas gifts.

“Programs like this instill in our students a sense of stewardship and a desire to help their neighbors,” said Kellie Warner, agricultural education instructor at Edgewood-Butler Tech and this year’s recipient of the Association for Career Technical Educator’s Region 1 award for being the Outstanding Teacher in Community Service. “The students thoroughly enjoy the experience of sacrificing their time and comforts of home – being warm, having cell phones, etc. – knowing that by doing so they are helping somebody else. There will always be people around us who need help when they fall on hard times. I think projects such as Cardboard City teach students the value of putting others first, which is also something that they will carry with them the rest of their lives.”

It had been the chapter tradition to sponsor local families for Christmas, Warner said, and as of 2005, the students were raising about $600 per year through a school-wide collection. It was that year that the high school football coach and athletic director, Steve Channell, challenged the FFA members: if they would raise $1,000 the next year, he would take a “pie in the eye” at a school-wide assembly.

With that motivation, the students actively searched for new ideas to raise money while creating an experience that would benefit their members – and the Cardboard City project was born. Since then, Channell has increased his annual challenge to the students, this year challenging the students to raise $14,000. When the chapter raised $17,500 in the fall, the students were able to shave his beloved mustache as well as enjoy Channell dressing as a woman for a school-wide assembly.

Cardboard City

“I love participating in Cardboard City because it is such an impactful project and an experience that is unforgettable,” said Jenny Shaw, a junior at Edgewood-Butler Tech and chapter president. “The feeling you get at three in the morning, in 20 degree weather is just a taste of what homeless people go through everyday of their lives. My outlook on life is completely different now because of Cardboard City, and I am eternally grateful for every experience and memory that this project gives me.”

The students raise the money by collecting sponsorships from individuals or local businesses to participate in the project. Although each student is required to raise a minimum of $70, many collect much more. Those sponsorships are considered the students’ registration for the event, which consists of sleeping outdoors in a cardboard box for one night in November.

For each dollar the students raise in real money, they are given that equivalent in play money for the evening, which can be used to “buy” things throughout the night.

While each student is required to use that money to at least purchase a cardboard box, they can also “buy” blankets, pillows, 30 minutes of indoor time, food from the soup kitchen and more. This year, the students were also able to purchase half of a cell phone service – which was a very popular purchase according to Warner.
“Students spend the entire evening living as if they were homeless,” Warner said. “We set out trashcans for them to scavenge through for food. They can also find puzzles, markets, etc. that they can use for something to do. A lot of kids complain about boredom, as they aren’t allowed to have cell phones or iPods for the entire night. They learn to work together to support the less fortunate in their mock communities. Kids with a lot of play money take those with less money under their wing and help buy things for them.”

The program continues to grow exponentially, both in money raised and the number of students participating. The first year, 25 students participated, the second year had 60 students participate, and last year 125 students were involved.

“Cardboard City has taught me to be appreciative of all the things I have,” said Katie Shaw, a junior and chapter FFA secretary. “I have a loving family, a warm home and am provided with food. Before participating in Cardboard City, I took things for granted; I always wanted things that I didn’t necessarily need. I didn’t realize that I was blessed to have the everyday basic needs some people in this world don’t have. Cardboard City is an eye-opening experience that allows you to face reality and to not take things for granted.”

Warner said not only does the program help support struggling families, it also raises awareness in the community about homelessness and the level of need of local families, And students get to experience homelessness in a setting that is as real as possible.

“I have gained a better understanding of what it means to be homeless and that not everyone is at fault for the way they live,” said Jenny Shaw. “I have become more appreciative for all the luxuries I have in my life as well as how lucky I am to have a family that loves me and a roof over my head.

Most of all, though, I have learned the impact that a simple gesture of understanding, such as this project, has on people in our community that are less fortunate.”

Programs like this, Warner said, can make a big impact on students.

“They allow our students to reflect on their lives and to gain a deep appreciation for what they have,” Warner said. “As a society, we often criticize teenagers for being ungrateful and selfish. I think those words can apply to all of us at some point.

These programs help students to learn, at a relatively young age, that they have much to be thankful for, which I believe is something that is important throughout their entire lives.”

And her students agree.

“I learned how thankful I am for all of the luxuries I have in my life,” said Lacey Pate, chapter reporter and junior at Edgewood-Butler Tech.

“It’s important to promote awareness about poverty in our community because there are many people in the community that live in poverty, and this issue goes unseen quite often.”

“I want people to know that FFA is an organization that creates opportunity and miracles for those around it,” said Tyler Baker, sophomore and student advisor of the Edgewood-Butler Tech FFA chapter. “No other high school organization does more community services or offers their help like the FFA. For me personally, it has helped me grow as a person immensely. It impacted my life, and I’m dedicated to the organization because of its dedication to making a difference.”