New city to pop up overnight

PALMER — A city is about to spring up next to the Alaska State Fairgrounds — a cardboard city with cars and mansions and castles.

“Last year we raised over $8,000,” said Laurie Kari, director of Family Promise Mat-Su. “It kind of keeps growing every year.”

The annual Cardboard City event is both a fundraiser and a means to raise awareness. The money comes from pledges. Organizers ask that anyone who builds in the city contribute $50 in pledges for each box they use.

The awareness comes from testimonials from Family Promise clients and homeless Mat-Su residents.

Some statistics on homelessness: More than 800 homeless youth were identified in Mat-Su schools in 2011. The most recent homeless count, held in January, brought out 339 people seeking help — 218 adults and 121 children.

And the Valley has very few resources to help. There is no emergency shelter except for Family Promise, which deals strictly with families with children and can only accommodate 15 people at a time.

All of this will be discussed at Cardboard City, and more. An added benefit, Kari said, is that everyone who deals with homelessness in the Valley tends to congregate there. Having everyone in the same place for an entire night is immensely useful.

“We can discuss their strategic plan and plan together. It’s a great community education and outreach thing,” she said.

The cardboard houses are mostly for fun. They’re judged in categories like “most likely to house a celebrity” and “most Picasso-like.” Kari said her favorite category is “most relevant to the cause.”

Kari said that gathering cardboard starts four months in advance each year. By Thursday, she had a full moving van, but was sufficiently worried about having enough that she put in a request for more cardboard with the recycling center. As for the residents of Cardboard City, Kari said they represent a cross-section of Valley society.

“The biggest groups that build castles to live in together are the youth groups,” Kari said. “Country Legends always builds a mammoth thing.”

Businesses are stepping up as well.

“I also have a challenge going on this year for small businesses to come and challenge each other for most money raised,” Kari said. “We had a retirement home, Primrose Retirement Center is challenging the other seniors.”

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.

What: Cardboard City fundraiser.

Where: Green gate, Alaska State Fairgrounds.

When: Friday starting at 5 p.m., ending Saturday at 8 a.m.