Box City set up at Badger Middle School

There are about 70 students from Badger Middle School that are really going to appreciate their homes today – that’s after they participated in Box City.

The event was tied to a Business Leadership course at Badger Middle School run by Sheila Frafjord.

“The leadership students had to take on a service learning project and they chose this,” she said.

On Saturday afternoon students spent several hours pulling large sheets of cardboard out onto the grassy middle of Badger track. Armed with scissors, Duck Tape and some Daniel-Boonesque camping wherewithal the set about building their home for the night.

“They students had to elect the project, promote it, solicit donations and supplies and now they’re executing,” Frafjord said. “Since the homeless rate is going up the students wanted to do something for Family Promise; they realize there are people who don’t have as much s they do and this will teach them to appreciate what they have.”

Included in the evening was a meager dinner and sparse breakfast but there were also games and a movie to add a little fun.

“We’re raising awareness for people without a home,” said Eli Eichner, 14, an eighth grader at Badger Middle School.  “We’re going to sleep in this tonight.”

Eichner and his pal started out with a luxurious two-story plan before reality set in.

“It’s really hard to make a box, especially with limited materials,” he said.  “This homeless thing is hard and I know we’re getting lucky because they’re feeding us tonight.”

Nathan Meyer, 14, is an eighth grader at Badger Middle School. He put in a floor in his cardboard home. “We knew it was going to be cold tonight,” he said. “We’ve yet to figure out a roof …. or a door for that matter; it looks like we’ll cut in a cat door.”

Ethan Lucas, 14, went with the burrito design.

Students survived the night and raised about $1,000 for Family Promise.

Behind the scenes Frafjord kept an eye on the weather the entire week.

“At the beginning of the week I saw some showers but now there’s no rain but it could get chilly,” she said.

“I told the students to dress in layers and we’ll have hot chocolate. We have games planned and a movie and it’s great to see the smiles but we want them to be grateful for what they have and support others.”