By Madeline Burgin |
Contributor
The Augusta University Summerville campus was empty on March 2 of most signs of life, except in front of the Maxwell Theatre. Upon arrival, the first thing one might have noticed was all the cardboard boxes.
These boxes, or rather cardboard sculptures, littered the greenway in front of the theater, forming Cardboard City 2019, which was sponsored by Elizabeth Huggins’ Inquiry classes in conjunction with the Academic Success Center, Dean of Students Office, First & Second Year Experiences, Multicultural Student Engagement and the Maxwell Theatre.
The event raised awareness about homelessness in Augusta by allowing students to create their own cardboard “home,” enter into a cardboard “home” competition, prepare care packages for the Salvation Army, and to “live” in their cardboard “home.”
Tina Baggott of Augusta University Volunteer Services and Engagement hopes that that Cardboard City 2019 was successful in “[raising] awareness about what many college students take for granted and to live life on the other side,” she said.
The event used a multi-pronged approach to raise awareness and allow for participant reflection. The night started off with a check-in and two hours for the teams to meet up and construct their inventive cardboard “homes.” The “homes” ranged from the average cardboard box to elaborate set ups that include fences for dogs and tunnels to connect rooms.
After two hours of fun and creativity, the participants ushered into the theatre to watch “UnSheltereD.” “UnSheltereD” is a documentary directed by Chris Alison that chronicles Byon McCullough and Bryan Braddock’s journey to live life as homeless people in Augusta for a week. The documentary helped add background to the homelessness epidemic in America and how it affects locally in Augusta. Many participants left the theater misty-eyed and some in tears.
The documentary helped shape some participants’ minds to think of new ways to help and reflect upon the homeless population in Augusta. Erin Gerety, a sorority member and head of the care package table, recognized that there is “a need for a transitory center in Augusta.” This would create easier pathways for the homeless to navigate how to get a job, treatment, and a permanent home.
Following the documentary, participants helped assemble care packages and continued to work on their cardboard “homes” until judging. The care packages are gallon Ziploc bags filled with basic toiletries and necessities that include shampoo, soap, toilet paper, feminine products and more, which cost around ten dollars to make.
Some sororities on campus donated the feminine products to Cardboard City 2019. This addressed the monumental need within homeless shelters and to those that cannot afford feminine products.
According to Huggins, this is a student-driven event created by her students who have witnessed and been exposed to homelessness. Within Huggins’ Inquiry class, students had the opportunity to plan this event and speak to those who were once homeless.
This whole experience of this event is not to make light of homelessness, but to utilize a fun university event to raise awareness locally about a nationwide epidemic. This event informed students how they can personally affect change in their local community. Huggins hopes that Cardboard City 2019 "allows students to consider things that they may have never considered such as, homelessness, hunger, and oppression.”
Within Augusta, there are many organizations that specifically target hunger and homelessness. From Golden Food bank to the Salvation Army to the Bridge Ministry, there are diverse opportunities for faculty and students to get involved at any level. According to Huggins, there is a “call to support one’s own community.” This can simply mean donating food to the Open Paws Food Pantry on campus or donating dollar store toiletries to shelters.
Many of the participants noted on the several ways that they will continue to affect change within the community and learned how even seemingly small changes can transform a person’s day or life. All it takes sometimes is live on the other side.