Local students participate 
in homelessness experience

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Twenty-two youth from United Presbyterian, First Lutheran, First Presbyterian and Our Savior Lutheran churches recently participated in a night of experiencing homelessness.

After an evening of fellowship and watching a movie about homelessness, youth constructed shelters from cardboard boxes and spent the night in them Friday night in the parking lot of United Presbyterian Church. While the temperatures were mild, the wind did cause problems for
some. The youth completed their overnight with a hot breakfast served by members of the participating churches.

Toiletry items also were collected and donated to Hope Ministries in Des Moines, a non-profit group serving people residing in real-life homeless conditions.

Pictured in the front row (from left) are Callyn Claussen, Emily Forsyth, Taylor Engle, Kristin Rogahn and Matt Rogahn. Second row: Sidney Griffith, Heather Jenner, Mackenzie Bleeker, Stephanie Griffith, Morgan Daniels, Sam Cutts, Lindsey Hook, Abby Jolivette, Ian Moore, Sydney Hemann, Zach Mulloy, Ben Ellis, Rachel Rickers, Conner Marston and Erica Creswick. Back row: Jon Ellis, Trevor Jenner, Nick Ellis and Cody Bradshaw.