By Ariana Johnson, student news writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - A night without laptops, cell phones, video games or unlimited food is what students and other participants can expect on Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on the Campbellsville University campus.

The third annual “Cardboard Nation: A Homeless Experience” will be on Ransdell Chapel's lawn at 401 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville, Ky. The event is presented by the Social Workers in Charge can Help (SWITCH) Club in partnership with Green River Ministries (GRM).

Cardboard Nation is meant to provide the most realistic yet safe homeless living experience possible. Participants will sleep the night in a cardboard box, as the homeless do, in order to raise awareness of the homeless.

Each participant or group will get pledges for a minimum “rent” of $25 with a goal of $100 for each person attending. “Rent” and pledges are due April 29.

For each participant, the more money raised will result in a bigger cardboard box in which the participant is to use to pass his or her night of homelessness. All proceeds go to Green River Ministries Shelter.

A kick-off soup line begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6. Cleanup and departure begins at 6 a.m. Saturday, May 7. Courteous panhandling will be allowed.

Since February 2007, GRM has provided overnight shelter to a total of 198 individuals including 142 adults and 56 children. Since its doors opened, they have received a total of 917 requests for housing and other services including 579 adults and 338 children.

Green River Ministries is located at 55 Clem Haskins Blvd., Campbellsville; it will be celebrating its fifth-year anniversary in August 2011.

Cardboard Nation will take place whether rain or shine. Activities for the night will consist of acoustic music, a candlelight walk, a previously homeless speaker, a scavenger hunt and many more. “Each year we have between 50 to 75 participants and raise between $2,500 to $4,000 for the homeless shelter,” Misty Curry, executive director of Green River Ministries, said.

Curry, a 2005 social work graduate of CU, said, “More than the money though, is the experience of fellowship with other participants and the realization that this is how some people live-not just spending one night in a box, but every night.”

“I am also reminded every year when I sleep in my box what pressure points are,” she said.

Each participate is to bring only one blanket or sleeping bag. A pillow is a luxury for the homeless so you are asked not to bring one.

Prizes will be given throughout the night including a special prize for most money raised.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with over 3,000 students offering 63 undergraduate programs, 17 master's degrees and five postgraduate areas. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.