Habitat for Humanity's Shack Week raises funds, awareness for homeless

Student participants slept outside and ate only donated food.

By Angela Case

Published Oct. 16, 2009

Voluntarily sleeping outdoors in this week's frigid fall weather might seem strange to some, but a few MU students did it to raise awareness for the thousands of Americans who do so without a choice.

Members of MU's chapter of Habitat for Humanity camped out in cardboard boxes on Lowry Mall this week to raise money and awareness for the organization.

Austin Calloway, executive board member of MU Habitat for Humanity, said Shack Week is the group's biggest annual fundraiser and the group has a fundraising goal of $5,000 for the week.

Habitat for Humanity members built makeshift shelters of cardboard boxes and tarps on the mall Sunday night and lived exclusively in them through Friday morning. Participants were given some respite from the cold, though, as they went to class and work as usual.

"We continue our normal day-to-day routines," said Vice President Ashley Schmitt, a participant in the event.

Participants simulated homelessness by eating only food donated to them. Habitat President Jack Campbell said the participants haven't gone hungry.

"We've had food, hot chocolate and fresh fruit donated," he said. "We're much colder than we are hungry."

Shack Week is usually held in the spring, when the weather is warmer, but also wetter, Campbell said. The event was moved to October in hopes of recruiting more people to join the group.

"We might do it again in the spring," Campbell said.

Participants used sleeping bags, layered clothing and hot drinks to help keep the cold at bay.

"We're definitely cold," Campbell said. "Today (Tuesday) is much colder than yesterday. In the boxes, out of the wind, it's better."

Along with collecting general donations, participants sold T-shirts to raise money for their organization. The week's events also included a game called "One Hit Wonder." For a $1 donation, students could try their hand at hammering a nail into a wooden board. If they successfully drove the nail in with one hit, they won a T-shirt.

In addition to fundraising, the group tries to participate in one Habitat for Humanity build a month.

"Last year we did a homecoming build outside of the Newman Center, but we didn't want to do two big events two weeks in a row this year," Campbell said.

The group's next build will be Oct. 31. Schmitt said students who are interested in getting involved are encouraged to sign up for the group's listserv to receive notifications about group meetings and builds.

Campbell said Shack Week began Sunday with four participants. As of Tuesday, the number was up to seven, and more students were expected to join the group.

Campbell wasn't sure exactly how many schools throughout the nation host Shack Week events, but he estimated the number to be in the hundreds. Campbell said Missouri State University and Saint Louis University were the two other Missouri schools he knew of that sponsor a Shack Week. He said the event at MSU, which has a smaller student population than MU, usually has about 30 student participants.

All students were encouraged to come out and show their support for Habitat for Humanity in its fundraising efforts.

"Just bring a box and a tarp and come hang out," Schmitt said.

Calloway said one of the goals of Shack Week was to raise awareness about homelessness.

"I'm here for the 1.6 million Americans who do this every night," he said.