Cardboard Box City: Surviving to Thrive

What is Cardboard Box City? Cardboard Box City is a fundraising and awareness building event that can be attended in-person, or virtually. This hybrid event provides young people and their families with a greater, personal understanding of the challenges facing families who are experiencing homelessness right here in our own community. Individuals, families, or groups spend the night in a cardboard box “house” that they make and decorate. Come spend the night at the Berean Church, where we will have activities, entertainment, and presentations throughout the evening related to family homelessness. Or you can participate from home and sleep in your own yard or living room, joining us virtually.

But why should I participate? We are asking you to participate so you can help us generate awareness about the number of families experiencing homelessness right here in Rochester, and to raise money for Family Promise Rochester, an organization that provides shelter and helps families find housing and self-sufficiency.

Okay, so how can I participate? You can register on our website at: www.fprochestermn.org/events  Once registered, you will receive information on how to collect pledges from your family and friends. Soup, bread, hot chocolate, and coffee will be served at the event. We will also be posting pictures of your houses on our Facebook page.

This year we are also offering a way for you to participate virtually! You can create your box “house”, post a picture of it to our Facebook page, get pledges, and sleep in your box in your own yard or living room. We will live stream our events on our Facebook page so you can join us virtually, as though you are right there with us!

I’m interested, but will there be prizes? Absolutely! Pictures of all cardboard box “houses” will be posted to the Family Promise Rochester Facebook page. The public will be given the opportunity to vote by “liking” their favorite creation. The winner will be featured on our website and named mayor of the city!

$25= $50= T-shirt or hooded sweatshirt $100= name entered in grand prize drawing

Prizes will also be given for dollars raised.