Box City goes virtual in 2020 with Hurdles to Housing challenge

COVID-19 turned a lot of things upside down this year, and events like Box City are certainly no exception. Due to the virus, Box City is going to look different this year – it’s going virtual!  

But wait, there’s a catch.

This year’s Box City event has been renamed 'Hurdles to Housing,' a 30-day, team-based immersion experience designed to promote awareness, increase understanding, inspire local change and transform perspectives about homelessness in Lebanon County. Homelessness is a reality for many individuals and families. But unless you've experienced it for yourself, it may be difficult to truly understand the complexity and pressures that come along with it. 'Hurdles to Housing' is not a game, but rather a self-guided challenge that we hope will lead to reflection on homelessness, especially during this time of crisis in the world.  All proceeds will benefit the LCCM FRESH Start Emergency Shelter & Resource Center, which provided 2,342 nights of stay to 126 guests over the last year - many of which are children.

HRESKO'S B-B-Q PIT BOX CITY FUNDRAISER IS BACK!

Support LCCM by purchasing a $10 meal that consists of a delicious pulled pork sandwich, baked mac and cheese, fried corn on the cob and coleslaw. Pick up is Friday, Aug. 21 at Church of the Good Shepherd. Get your tickets here. 

 Whether you are 10 years old or 100 years old, we are inviting you and your family or team on a challenging, 30-day journey to experience what it is like to be homeless in Lebanon County with the self-guided, 30-day Hurdles to Housing experience starting Wednesday, July 22 and ending Friday, Aug. 21.

Have a 'live chat' space on your bingo card? Here are two you can watch. Catch the last Friday, Aug. 21 at 7 pm when we go live on Facebook with Amanda, our FRESH Start support services coordinator 

How this works:

Step 1: Print out or download the Hurdles to Housing BINGO-style card and the corresponding directions:

Hurdles to Housing BINGO-style card and directions (the photo is also found below)

Each participant or group will receive the Hurdles to Housing bingo-style card.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to raise funds and get BINGO (vertically, horizontally or diagonally) in 30 days or less, ending Friday evening, Aug. 21. The goal is to raise at least $500 individually or work as a team (that averages out to $100 per space but we're not picky). Teams that hit their goal will be entered into a raffle to win a prize at the end of the 30 days. As you read over the card and the corresponding informational sheet, some of these spaces are asking you to do some challenging things that may be uncomfortable – and that’s the point. This is the day-to-day reality faced by many of our FRESH Start shelter guests before, during and sometimes even after their stay until they secure stable housing and are financially secure.  You can get a friend, family member, co-worker, etc. to sponsor you and/or your group to complete tasks to raise funds for the FRESH Start Emergency Shelter and Resource Center. If you’re working as a team, each member can have their own card, or you can work as a team off of one card. This is totally up to you!

Step 2: Set up peer-to-peer fundraising page

Remember how we said people can sponsor you for each task that you complete? Well, this is where they can contribute to help you raise funds. Setting up a page can be done in a few easy steps in a matter of minutes by clicking on the 'become a fundraiser' button below. Don’t forget to add a photo, a bio of yourself and why you’re passionate about helping the cause, and you can even set a goal! You will be able to see all participant pages and a leaderboard to see who is in the lead.

Need help setting it up? Email Andrea at [email protected] and she will help you! You can collect donations online OR offline. Just let Andrea know if there are any forthcoming offline donations arriving at LCCM and she will associate those donations with your fundraising page! 

Step 3: You have 30 days to get bingo!

Starting Wednesday, July 22, you can work independently or with your team/family to complete a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. You are encouraged to even fill multiple rows or a whole card!

Step 4: Share your progress!

Share your progress with us by taking photos and video, sharing statistics provided or any other creative way to get the word out to your friends and family about what you’re doing and learning on social media or via email. Use hashtag #LCCMHurdlestoHousing on Facebook or Instagram!

Step 5: Submit your cards to be entered into a raffle

If you filled a row, your card will be entered into a raffle for a $50 family night out prize! If you filled an entire card, your card will be entered to win a $150 family night out prize! Submit your cards to Andrea at [email protected] by Friday, Aug. 21 at 5 pm. Tune in to our Facebook live at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 21 to hear a Q&A with Amanda, our FRESH Start shelter lead who will give you insight into the homeless issue in Lebanon County, the challenges our guests face, and hear about Amanda’s own homelessness experience. Please feel free to ask questions! At the end of the 30-minute interview, we will do a live raffle drawing and announce the winners! If you can’t tune in, that’s OK! Winners will be notified via email or phone.

Hurdles to Housing BINGO card

Print out the corresponding directions here.