CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — More than 40 teenagers from Mechanicsburg participated in an unconventional sleepover, which shed light on homelessness. Hosted at the First United Methodist Church, the event challenged the participants to understand the struggles those without stable housing face.
On Friday, young members of First United Methodist Church and Mechanicsburg Brethren in Christ Church gathered for the 32nd annual Sleep Out, spending one night living outside to experience homelessness.
The teens were busy constructing makeshift shelters from cardboard boxes as part of the night's activities. Instead of pillow fights and games, they engaged in a meaningful mission to raise awareness and funds for the homeless community.
“Currently we’re raising money for the homeless and we’re sleeping in boxes to spread awareness,” said 14-year-old Elyse Moll, who is participating for the first time.
Students created signs and decorated jugs to collect money from cars driving past the church’s parking lot. The funds raised will be donated to local homelessness advocacy groups including New Hope Ministries, One80 Ministries and Family Promise.
The sleepover ran from Friday at 4 p.m. to Saturday at 8 a.m., totaling 16 hours in the rain and cold. As they brave the elements throughout the night, the harsh realities of homelessness become clear.
“It was a lot of work doing this, and that’s what they have to do, so that’s what this night is all about,” Moll noted, emphasizing the significance of the experience.
The event is always scheduled around the holidays, serving as a powerful lesson in empathy and appreciation for what they have. Zachary Bagotto, a middle schooler in Mechanicsburg, shared how the experience has altered his perspective.
“It makes me appreciate what I have now that I know what it’s like [being] homeless. But the reality is a lot of people don’t have a box and it’s just maybe a bench with a ragged towel,” Bagotto said.
For others, this experiment in walking a mile in someone else's shoes is eye-opening.
“It just opens more opportunities for me visually, seeing how people live, and it means a lot to me because it gives me an opportunity to raise awareness for the homeless,” remarked junior Evan Rynex, who has participated in the church’s sleep out for three years.
Lisa Aronson is a youth pastor at First United Methodist and emphasized the educational aspect of the experience.
“People who are homeless don’t get to choose when they want to be homeless. For this event, we’re trying to experience and understand homelessness,” Aronson explained, noting that the weather conditions—whether rain or shine—are part of the realities faced by those experiencing homelessness.
Rynex agreed, adding, “This is temporary for us. For the homeless, it’s not temporary. They have no idea how long they could be out here for.”
After the event, the teens return to their homes, where warm beds and roofs await them. However, their journey through a different walk of life is something they will carry with them for many miles to come.