‘Cardboard City’ fundraiser aims to fight homelessness

PALMER — It’s that time of year again for the Alaska State Fairgrounds to be transformed into a Cardboard City July 17-18.

For the eighth year in a row, Mat-Su residents will flock to the fairgrounds this weekend to create and “rent” cardboard shelters for a night, supporting local nonprofit Family Promise Mat-Su in its fight against homelessness. Onsite registration for this annual fundraiser begins at 5 p.m., Friday. Participants are required to vacate the premises by 8 a.m., Saturday.

This year’s the event comes arrives on the heels of the Sockeye fire, which rendered many Willow residents and celebrity dog mushers homeless. Family Promise Mat-Su was one of the organizations that worked alongside the Red Cross to temporarily house and provide for those displaced by the fire, which Executive Director Laurie Kari called an “eye opening” experience.

The mass and highly televised loss was unlike anything Family Promise had encountered in its regular assistance of individual families, she said, and it is a reminder of what Cardboard City is about.

“I think it’s good for the world to see and to appreciate what they do have and actually step into somebody else’s life and make a difference,” Kari said.

Awareness of homelessness in the Mat-Su Valley by those who do have a warm bed to sleep in at night has increased, Kari said, as evidenced by the opening of the Knik House in Wasilla, the expansion of MY House, and new groups like the Wasilla Homeless Committee.

“They’re all an inspiration for the way that they’re increasing awareness and outreach to everybody,” Kari said.

But for people who haven’t had the firsthand experience of sleeping outdoors in a shelter of their own making, Cardboard City has something unique to offer.

Upon arrival at the Green Gate Friday evening, each participant will receive one cardboard box for every $50 raised (individually or through sponsorship). Next, participants scope out a place on the fairgrounds to set up their temporary home. The “homeless” then have an opportunity to extend and decorate their shelters with duct tape and any additional cardboard brought from home.

Though somber dwellings, such as the one Kari often makes from a coffin box — winning her home the “Most Relevant” award on more than one occasion — can be spotted at the event, participants are welcome to be more lighthearted in their designs. Awards for Most Picasso-like; Most Likely to House a Celebrity; Best Dwelling; and Best Use of Duct Tape are also distributed.

Additionally, awards are available for First Online Registrant; Most Years Participating; Most Money Raised (with designations for small businesses, large businesses and individuals); and Largest Group, plus two blank awards to be created on the spot for specific kinds of creativity.

At 6 p.m., Friday a meal of soup, bread and coffee or water — supplied by Vagabond Blues, Turkey Red, Bistro Red Beet, North Star Bakery, House of Bread and Alaska Coffee Roastery — will be provided. Music by Henry and Anna Woodall of First Presbyterian Church in Wasilla, Anchorage band No Wake and possibly other musical groups will performed throughout the evening.

Following the meal, participants will pause to hear testimonials from Mat-Su residents who’ve escaped homelessness, thanks to help from Family Promise and other organizations. Some of those residents — and current Family Promise clients — even choose to stay the night in a cardboard shelter of their own, lest they forget how far they’ve come.

For any and all, the rising sun — or falling rain, as is usually the case — brings with it new understanding, however simple, of life without a home.

“Just a great thankfulness for your own bed in the morning, that’s what I always experience,” Kari said.

To register for the event online, visit familypromisematsu.org/Cardboard_City.html. Paper registration forms are also available at the Frontiersman office.

For more information, contact Family Promise Mat-Su at 357-6160 or promise@mtaonline.net.

Contact Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.