Living in a box

Oct. 24 is a night that a dozen Upstate youths will not soon forget.

Possessing only a sleeping bag, flashlight and flattened pieces of cardboard, the teens dealt with temperatures dipping into the 40s and a steady downpour for a night outdoors.

Many of them spent the night tossing and turning on their concrete mattresses.

For the 12 participants, it was only a few hours. But for some in Cherokee County, the streets are their home.

In an effort to raise awareness on the issue of homelessness in the area, Miracle Hill Ministries sponsored its first "Boxed Out" event at Buford Street Drug Store in Gaffney.

"It was a wake-up call for all of us, about the reality of living without a home," said Miracle Hill Media Coordinator Elizabeth Davis. "We couldn't imagine what it would be like to have to live like that every night."

At least 500 people make their way to Miracle Hill Ministries everyday in hope of obtaining a free meal and place to lay their head for the night.

The shelter provided lessons on why some people become homeless and the difficulty in rising above it — especially if drugs or alcohol is involved.

"The young people saw firsthand that no matter how well things are going, things from the past can come up and put you right back where you started," Davis said.

A former Miracle Hill resident also spoke to the youths during the event. Forced to overcome an addiction to alcohol and a life of crime that landed him in jail, the man came to the shelter looking for help.

According to "Boxed Out" participant Brent Waggoner, the speaker's testimony made him thankful for the things he possesses.

"It's got to be the most demoralizing thing to be running around like an animal because you're homeless and don't have anywhere to sleep or way to establish a base of operations," Waggoner said.

Despite the rain and cold, Davis believes many of them left with a warm feeling on the inside.

"As miserable as the night was, we had homes to go back to and be able to sleep in warm, dry beds," Davis said. "It definitely opened their eyes about this issue."