Cardboard City returns for second year

Written by Tim Adkins, Cheatham County School District communications director

The Cheatham County Homeless Coalition, working to raise awareness about homelessness in the community, wants to give the public a better understanding of what it means to be without a home.

The Coalition will host its second annual Cardboard City challenge on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 8:30-11 a.m. at the Cheatham County Courthouse in Ashland City.

Families, churches, schools, nonprofits, civic organizations and businesses are invited to form a team and participate in this experience. Teams, which are limited to 4-6 people, will be given cardboard boxes and duct tape and can pick one extra item such as rope, tarps, blankets, and scissors to build the homes. The homes will be judged, and prizes will be awarded.

Teams need to register in advance for the event and can do so through the Cheatham County Homeless Coalition website at www.cheathamhomelesscoalition.com or directly at the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/rnCJX2a5c6.

The registration deadline is August 23. There is no cost for teams to participate. There will be both youth and adult categories this year. Registered participants will receive a free T-shirt.

On the day of the event, teams should arrive by 8:30 a.m. A welcome and rules will be reviewed at 8:30 a.m. and the actual building will take place from 9-10 a.m. Announcements, speakers, judging, and awards will follow. A free breakfast, courtesy of Hardee’s in Ashland City, will be available for participants.

For more information, please visit the Homeless Coalition’s website at www.cheathamhomelesscoalition.com or email Lisa Wysocky at lisa@colbysarmy.org or Claudette Fizer at claudette.fizer@ccstn.org.