Awareness raised for homelessness

GREENVILLE – Rain was threatening… but undeterred, Key Club “hobos” built their box homes in the inner courtyard of Greenville High School for the second annual Box City to Raise Awareness for the Homeless.

They avoided the rain, but it made little difference as none of them slept that night. There was too much to do. Once they built their homes it was time for games, pizza, contests, a movie or two and several lessons on the plight of Americans without a home.

For instance, there are 3.5 million homeless every year in the U.S. In Darke County, 46 people – including mothers and children – have no home. Three different “discussion” sessions addressed Overall Homelessness in the U.S. and Ohio; Mothers and Families; and Teen Homelessness.

While the goal of Box City was to raise awareness, participants also had to bring food and clothing in order to “purchase” building supplies such as boxes and duct tape. Those items were donated to local food and homeless shelters.

About 30 Key Club members from different Divisions in the KCI Ohio District broke into several tribes, including: Slytherin (The Slithering Dungeon); Hobo Sapiens; Happy Hobos; Camp KC (Camp Kitty Cat); The Gryffindor Tower; Erryday In Dumblin and Dumblederry Army.

Top prize winners of the night were the Hobo Sapiens… “It all started in Hobo Nam and Hobo Jima. Then we came back and took over the GHS Courtyard… because Hobos are people, too.”

One highlight of the evening was Erika Waller’s Hobo Home. It was built by three engineers… “Just because you’re homeless doesn’t mean you can’t have style.”

Erika’s Dad, Kent Waller, said he’d asked a contractor for boxes for the project. The next thing he knew, they were building the house.

“I wish I could have bottled that look,” he said about his daughter when she first saw her Hobo Home. “Her giggle was priceless.”

Despite no sleep for most participants, the cleanup took place rapidly between 7 and 9 a.m. The Courtyard and GHS hallways were left exactly as they were found.

Ohio District Secretary Mariah Reitz, coordinator of the annual event, wanted to thank all of those who participated plus the following sponsors: Walgreens, Marco’s Pizza, Kitchen Aide, The Dollar Tree, Big Lots, Shoebilee, Lowes, Tractor Supply, Francis Furniture, Eikenberry’s, Sears, Bri Makombe, Reitz Family, Kaur Family and Herzog Family.

The Greenville Key Club held its second annual Box City to help students understand the serious issue of homelessness. Pictures from the event are posted below: