[wzslider autoplay="true" interval="5000" height="600" transition="'slide'" info="true" lightbox="true"]Nearly 50 Central Michigan University students traded their warm beds and heated homes for cardboard boxes, sleeping bags and rainy weather Wednesday.

The students participated in the annual Cardboard City event, one that allows students to take a walk in a homeless person's shoes and spend the night outdoors in a cardboard box. Hosted by the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center and held outside of Charles V. Park Library, the event was part of a week dedicated to Hunger and Homelessness Awareness.

Volunteer Center Special Events Student Coordinator Octavia Carson said when she has planned this event in past years it has been successful, and she predicted this year would be no different.

"Last year, we had about 200 people participate," Carson said. "It's important for people come and be aware that living in a cardboard box isn't the only form of homelessness."

Carson said after students participate in awareness events such as Cardboard City, they often have a better understanding of the issue at hand.

"This is an important event because it's challenging for students, both mentally and physically," Carson said. "It really gets people to think about what's going on around them."

Participants built cardboard box "homes" to sleep in. Chalked on the surrounding sidewalks were statistics about homelessness and hunger in Isabella County. A candlelight vigil was held preceding speaker Sean VanEvery, who gave a testimonial about his personal struggles with homelessness.

Some students were participating in the event for the first time and were hopeful it would give them a new outlook, including Farmington Hills freshman Geneva Bass.

"I participated because it was something new to try," Bass said. "Where I'm from, there's very little homelessness, and I think it's important to be aware of issues going on around you, even if you can't see them."

A few of the students participating were returning after one or more positive experiences with Cardboard City, like Barryton sophomore Alex Barron.

"I did this event last year, and it was phenomenal because we all had so much fun and I met so many great people," Barron said. "It was a great bonding experience."

After a long night of cold and rain, only eight students were left when the morning arrived, Barron being one of them.

"This experience was much rougher than last year because it rained," Barron said. "It was so bad at one point that we actually had to take over another box because ours collapsed."

Even though the weather made sleeping outside difficult, a few students, including Saline freshman Randi Bennett, said they would come back next year to do it again.

"It was definitely an eye opening experience, but it was very cold and rainy," Bennett said. "I'll probably participate next year, but I hope the weather is a little better."

Carson said that even though attendance was lower than in years past, she was still pleased with the event overall.

"We had lower attendance this year than in the past, having about 50 people," Carson said. "Even though we had lower attendance, I still believe this was one of the best Cardboard Cities yet, because you could tell that those who came really enjoyed their experience. I could definitely tell a (positive) difference in attitude this year, even with a smaller group"