100 Teenagers Found
Homeless in Lancaster
* Teens trade beds for cardboard boxes
in “Home Sweet Home” project
* Nearly $5,000 raised
By Kelly Lynch
LANCASTER, Pa. – September 20 – One hundred Lancaster teens slept overnight in makeshift Mychal’s Village, built on the back parking lot of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church on Saturday, September 17 here.
Each teenage boy and girl spent the evening in a cardboard box to better understand the plight of the homeless and poor. An early evening thundershower drenched the boxes, but the teens simply rebuilt their “homes” in anticipation of the challenging night ahead.
Nearly $5,000 was raised. Each teen paid $9.11 to reserve their piece of “real estate” and also secured sponsors for their overnight adventure. All money raised will support the homeless in Lancaster, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and New York City, as well as those recently affected by Hurricane Katrina.
A sign stating “Welcome to Mychal’s Village” was at the entrance of the village, built in memory of FDNY Chaplain, Franciscan Father Mychal Judge who was killed on 9-11 in 2001in the Manhattan terrorist attack.
Nearly 60 volunteers helped create Mychal’s Village before the teens came. As they arrived, students were greeted and invited to choose a cardboard box on either St. Francis Way, Hunger Blvd., Shelter St. or Breadline Blvd.
No houses were found on Poverty Place. It was reserved for a special guest. There the teens found a gold box adorned with windows filled with pictures of homeless men, women and children. Wooden letters spelled out the words “Love one another as I have loved you” on the front of the box along with a large cutout of Jesus Christ. Upon opening the door, students found a large crucifix and a crown of thorns along with a basket of wheat and grapes symbolizing the Eucharist.
During the night, students heard from volunteer motivational speaker Dr. Jay Stolzfus, Lancaster; Franciscan Father Michael Duffy, St. Francis Inn Soup Kitchen, Philadelphia; established musicians Good to Go, Lancaster; Final Hour, Lancaster Catholic High School, Lancaster; and magician Mike Snyder, Lancaster who enlightened and entertained them.
“One of the best parts of the evening was sitting by the fire with my fellow ‘homeless friends’ at 1 Poverty Place,” said Eileen Darby, freshman at Lancaster Catholic High School. Carl Rovnak, senior at Hempfield High School, Lancaster, commented how he enjoyed “just being in the village.”
To raise awareness for the true discomforts of the homeless, students were offered no meals through the night and had to survive on only two bottles of water.
As bright morning sun came up the following day, students had a better understanding and appreciation for the homeless and poor. They attended 7:30 a.m. Mass at St. Leo’s Catholic Church where Franciscan Fr. Cassian Miles, St. Francis of Assisi Church, New York City concelebrated with pastor Fr. William Sullivan. After their overnight sacrifice, the teens were treated to a sausage and pancake breakfast.
Fr. Miles, lifelong friend of Fr. Mychal Judge, shared the experience as the “village chaplain.” In his farewell speech, Fr. Miles thanked the teens for their efforts and cooperation in making this first “Home Sweet Home” project successful.
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Mychal's Message, Inc. is registered as a charitable organization with the Department of State's Bureau of Charitable Organizations under the Solicitation of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act, 10 P.S. Section 16.2 et seq., and is authorized to solicit charitable contributions under the conditions and limitations set forth under the Act. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of State, Bureau of Charitable Organizations