UW-Madison students gathered inside Ingraham Hall Tuesday night rather than the scheduled location on Library Mall to spite the rain and still participate in the ""Night in a Box: Homelessness Hits Home"" event.
The Wisconsin Union Directorate and the Student Leadership Program organized the event, which informed students on the issue of homelessness.
Night in a Box was on the verge of cancellation this year due to the weather, but according to Mitra Jalali, community service director for WUD, WUD still wanted to hold the event to preserve the educational aspect of the planned speakers for interested students.
The speakers included: Steven Schooler, executive director of Homelessness for Porchlight, Inc.; Elliot, a previous member of the homeless community; and Debbie, a previous member of the homeless community and now Porchlight resident.
Porchlight, Inc. is a nonprofit agency that provides emergency shelter, food, employment services and affordable transitional and permanent housing.
Schooler told students about the various efforts and implications of Porchlight programs in the Madison area to combat homelessness. He also gave students statistics concerning how residents become members of the homeless community and the challenges they face when trying to regain status within the community.
""It's really hard to make water out of stone when you're only working a $9-an-hour job."" Schooler said.
Debbie, who was once a college student in Madison, told students how she had sunken into homelessness twice. Struggling through tears, she explained the struggles she faced after being released from the prison system after a seven-month period, finding herself on the street for the second time.
""She came here,"" UW-Madison Jen Hunholz said after hearing Debbie's story. ""I think a lot of people don't realize it can happen to anyone of us, at any time.""
Other students reflected on the speakers of the event and the facts presented by Schooler.
""It makes me think of how privileged I am,"" UW-Madison junior Marissa Lucchesi said. ""I still don't think I can be homeless, but it's actually a possibility.""
Einstein Bagels, Altanta Bread Co. and Noodles & Co. donated food to the event. According to Jalali, WUD intended for the warm meal donated by Noodles & Co. to be enjoyed by the members of the homeless community who had shared their personal experiences with students.
The movie ""The Pursuit of Happiness"" that was to follow the event was also cancelled due to the weather conditions.
