198 students from CMS-Piedmont IB Middle School had a one-night sleep out on Friday night to raise student awareness to the problem of homelessness in our community. As a community service project that is an element of the 8th grade curriculum of Piedmont IB Middle School, students were the driving force of the event.
Guest speakers from Urban Ministries spoke and shared stories about their path to homelessness. Students brought sleeping bags, blankets and pillows and slept outside on school grounds.
Dubbed the "Cardboard Campout", most students brought cardboard boxes to sleep in for the evening.
[ SEE PHOTOS: Piedmont IB Middle School's Cardboard Campout ]
One of the homeless speakers shared with the students that while he was homeless he slept many nights in a cardboard box to shelter himself from the harsh weather elements.
When the students woke at 6:15am on a cold Saturday morning, it was 38 degrees and most had a fresh awareness to the struggles of homelessness.
The students brought a five dollar donation as a contribution to Urban Ministry Center.