Raising awareness

Dozens of Students crowd Hahnville football field overnight with cardboard boxes, raise nearly $800 for New Orleans charity

Last Thursday, over 40 Hahnville High School students spent the night in cardboard boxes on the campus football field in an effort to raise money and awareness for homelessness.

The first annual event, Sleep in a Box, was spearheaded by the HHS Student Council and asked willing students to give up their beds for a night for a true homelessness experience.

“Overall, the event was success,” said Paula Gonzales, school publicity associate. “Participants raised $796.90 for the Covenant House in New Orleans.”

Participants were allowed to creatively decorate their boxes to add extra fun to the event, with the best box winning a prize.

The winners of the “Best Box” competition in the boys division was Matt Petit’s “Log House.” In the girls division, “Pink House” constructed by Megan Gonzales, Annie Kinler, Dominique Creppel, Bethany Eppling, Ariel Becnel and Angelle Dufrene took first. Each winner received “Breakfast in a Box” from Burger King in the morning.

Event features included a blinded obstacle course, 3-legged race, relay races and other entertainment along with sporting equipment to use like soccer balls and frisbees.

HHS seniors collectively say that the event was a lot of fun and they’re glad that students came come together to raise money for the Covenant House and hope to bring even more kids together next year for the to-be annual event.

Chaperons were on hand and the boys and girls were designated specific lots on the turf.

With only a 20-yard space to mingle, the girls’ lots were located behind the left 40-yard line and the boys’ lots were set up behind the opposite 40-yard line.

“The girls were not allowed to visit the boy’s neighborhood and the boys couldn’t take a trip to the girl’s side of the 40,” said Gonzales.

In the morning, the students moved into the gymnasium to get ready for Friday classes.