Even as temperatures dipped down into the 30s, dozens of local high school students spent Sunday night in cardboard boxes.
They wore layers and bundled in blankets to experience what it feels like to be homeless for one night.
"This is a big eye opener," said Zach Creutzinger, a senior at Elder High.
"We never realized how many homeless people are out there until you participate in something like this,” said Creutzinger. “You hear someone's story and see what they've gone through – and it's like wow – that could happen to any of us".
Julie Hagerty, an English teacher at Mt. Notre Dame, shared her story with students from Elder and Seton high schools.
Hagerty was homeless, along with her three children, when she took to the streets to escape an abusive relationship.
"It's really important that they understand how critical their compassion for those people in that situation are,” said Hagerty.
“Sometimes we judge too hastily and forget circumstances that are unavoidable that get people into these situations,” she said. “And so, when the kids hear the real stories behind the circumstances, it opens their hearts."
Emily Jorg, a senior at Seton High, was among 80 Seton students taking part in the sleep-out.
"I think a lot of people do stereotype all homeless people just to be like the drunks on the street. But like Julie, she didn't choose it, and a lot of people really opened their eyes," said Jorg.
Seton students packed 250 lunches that they're delivering to the Drop-Inn Center downtown on Monday.
Students at Aiken, Bishop Brossart, Ursuline Academy, Madeira High, Mother of Mercy, McAuley, LaSalle, Summit Country Day, St. Henry, Purcell-Marian, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Wyoming, Shroder, Hamilton Baden, Finneytown, Mt. Notre Dame, Reading and Roger Bacon are all taking part in the shanty-town project this month.
