Annual Chill Out helps students relate to homeless

Monroe High School’s Interact Club had its 5th biennial Chill Out on MHS’s campus Nov. 5 and 6 to show awareness about homelessness.

The participants in the Chill Out are supposed to understand what homeless people go through after participating in this event.

“This is just making them more aware of what other people go through because sometimes as teenagers we don’t think all the way for others,” said teacher and Interact Club sponsor Sue Jones.

Volunteers did not have any access to any comforts from home or electronics. Students who participated said they learned a great deal at the event.

“I should appreciate things more because I have what some people don’t have,” said freshman Sara Lorimor.

“I’m grateful to have a home and a bed to sleep in,” said freshman Molly Skowronsk.

Participants spent a whole 24-hours outside, only using things that were donated to them.

Some attendees to the Chill Out made a shelter out of a cardboard box to sleep in. “It went fairly well, Maiya Hegyi had brought a lot of boxes and duct tape so we weren’t limited on materials,” said Jones.

Every year, the wind usually starts to pick up at about midnight, which can cause issues. “There was a group that had put all of their boxes together and that wasn’t the best because they had an open front, which meant the wind would be able to get in,” said Jones.

In recent years, the volunteers for the Chill Out have been interviewed by local news television and newspapers. “We’ve been on TV, and it was intimidating. The event hasn’t really gotten any more sponsorship and so I thought no, not this time,” said Jones.

In the morning, a few participants went and volunteered for the Special Olympics.

“The kids didn’t sleep well, but they had really good attitudes. As people went by, they were making comments like ‘I love people’ and that means a lot to me,” said Jones.

Monroe High’s Interact Club collected about $400, which is going to the Monroe County Homeless Assistance Fund. The sponsors to the Chill Out were Miss Mary’s Preschool, Visiting Angels of Monroe, Merkle Funeral Service Inc., Monroe Rotary Club, and Shane Frank (Family Farm & Home).

“It made me realize how lucky I am and grateful,” said senior Jordan Scheur.