By Gina Morton
HUMMELS WHARF — Marrisa and Megan Stauffer stood along Routes 11-15 on Wednesday, holding signs and calling to passing motorists.
Meanwhile, members of their youth group built the cardboard box shelters they would sleep in that night.
The Stauffer sisters and members of their Wesley United Methodist Church youth group of Selinsgrove planned to sleep outside in the Aubrey Alexander Toyota parking lot to call attention to the plight of the homeless.
“Though Selinsgrove is a small town, and you think there is no homeless, if you look around, it is here,” said Megan, 17. “This brings more awareness. We want to give back.”
Church youth director Dale Long said this is the eighth year the youth group has participated in the event.
The 30 members, between sixth and 12th grades, and about 15 adults gathered at 4 p.m. Wednesday and will remain on site until 8 a.m. today.
Long said the goal is to raise awareness of homelessness, help children realize what the situation is like and raise money to help those who need it. Some of the money raised will be donated to the Elijah’s Bowl soup kitchen and the Haven Ministries shelter, both in Sunbury. The remainder will be donated to inner-city shelters during the group’s mission trips.
“We go to inner cities, like Philadelphia or (Washington) D.C., and go to shelters,” Long said.
This year’s goal is $7,000.
Marissa and Megan held signs next to the busy road that read “Help the Homeless” and “Every Penny Counts.” Drivers beeped their car horns as they passed, and some stopped to donate money.
“Some cars yell ‘get a job,’ ” Megan said, “and others tell us it’s a good thing.”
This is her seventh year participating in the event. Her sister has been involved for five years.
“With the way the economy has been the last few years, a lot of people were laid off, and we want to help,” said Marissa, 15. “If I was in that situation, I would want people to help me, and I want to help them.”
Although homeless individuals in the Valley don’t necessarily live this way, the group sleeps in the boxes in an attempt to see what the situation is really like, Long said.
“We make it as realistic as we can for the kids,” he said.
This was 11-year-old Jackie Waple’s first year taking part in the overnight event, and although she was cold early on, she was ready to stay until morning.
“It’s cold to start with, but it should be an interesting night,” she said. “It’s a good thing to show people we care.”
