The day started a little bit after 6:30am.  To say it was raining would be an understatement; I think I now understand the terms “Cats and Dogs” as that is what it felt like: hard pounding rain.  70 kids from 8th grade through High School gathered to spend 24 hours living in a cardboard box in a parking lot.   No food was allowed to be brought in, no electronics, nothing! To eat they had to beg for food and money.

Now for all of you parents out there, don’t worry, this is a very controlled event.  When it was set up, it was very clear, this was going to happen rain or shine!  And trust me, there is no shine going on right now outside. The event is put on by a local church trying to give the experience of what it is like to be homeless to these kids.  In the parking lot of a local grocery store, a orange barricade is set up; if you have an official shirt, come on in; no shirt, no in. Adults are there (as you might imagine) for all of the 24 hours.  As people come by, they will ask, politely, for food and donations; 100% of all that is given goes to a local homeless shelter here in Atlanta.  The goal of the day is to literally beg, from strangers.

I am going back and forth today shooting at some of their activities during the 24 hours.  Below are some images from this morning as they were getting set up and ready for the day.  I will post some more as the day goes on.

My first shot of the day right before I got out of the car.