Middle school children in the religious education program at Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Cape May Court House, volunteered to sleep outdoors in cardboard boxes Nov. 22 to experience what it might be like to be homeless.
Ann Herron, parish social justice coordinator and a catechist in the parish confirmation formation program, invited the children to participate in the experience to better understand the plight of the poor and the homeless in Cape May County.
To her surprise, 19 children came to build their own shelters. The children also saw a film about homelessness, and they heard speakers from two local organizations that work with the poor: Covenant House in Atlantic City and Mustard Seed of Cape May County.
Then they went outside to sleep overnight in the cold, protected only by their cardboard shelters.
As temperatures dipped to about 40 degrees, the children stayed outside for varying lengths of time, from two hours to all night. The students and their families ended the experience by coming together in prayer at the 8 a.m. Mass on Sunday, the feast of Christ the King.
The project was planned in conjunction with the Camden Diocesan Office of Life and Justice Matthew 25 Project, designed to draw attention to the poor and vulnerable in society.
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