As part of an interfaith National Make a Difference Day, LDS youth from the Queen Creek Arizona Chandler Heights stake partnered with four other Christian denominations to construct the first annual Cardboard City. The City is aimed at raising awareness of the valley’s growing homeless population.
Under the auspices of Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, 350 youth and leaders pitched in to help the homeless. Gathering at Barney Park in Gilbert, the youth donated hundreds of hours of labor by preparing hygiene kits for local homeless shelters and constructing their own cardboard shelters to simulate the experience of being homeless.
“We are thrilled at the opportunity to partner with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” said Ted Taylor, executive director for Family Promise in the Phoenix Area. “We have volunteers in 17 Christian churches all over the Valley providing food, shelter and encouragement to homeless families every week,” added Taylor.
Led by LDS members Chip and Jeanette Headman, leaders organized the youth from all four Christian churches into groups to put together the hygiene kits and construct the cardboard shelters.
Centered around the theme “We Believe in Doing Good ‘By Small and Simple Things,’ Let’s Do More,” the youth dined Friday night on a “soup kitchen” dinner, then listened to a real-life story of one church member who was once homeless and needed a hand up, not just a handout.
Saturday’s activities included seminars and speakers in an Especially-For-Youth setting, followed by Sunday testimony meetings at the respective churches.
Several members of the community heard about Cardboard City in the local media and attended the Friday night activity to show support. They are now committed to taking the message of Cardboard City back to their own congregations to encourage joining this interfaith effort next year.
The testimonies of three LDS youth, Dustie Lewis, Whitley Smith and Cody Yorgason, are representative of the lasting effects of Cardboard City: “We did this for one night and it was fun, but we want to help the homeless for the rest of our lives because we have a warm bed to return to, but the homeless do not.”
Cardboard City is a testament to the apostle Paul’s stirring commitment to charity as a measure of character, not simply a one-time act of service: “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor…and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3).
