Cardboard boxes provided shelter to a handful of NIU students Wednesday night in King Memorial Commons.

The NIU chapter of Habitat for Humanity staged the event to raise awareness for poverty.

The students slept overnight in large cardboard boxes to try to duplicate the situations poverty-stricken people face every day.

“I’m going to go on the wild side,” said Peter Karales, junior English major. “I am going with no coat, no blanket and no pillow.”

Karales said he heard about the event earlier today and became excited at the chance to participate.

“I am inspired,” he said. “We can do more for humanity and people who are in bad situations.”

Ryan Marsh, junior biology major, also participated in the event. Marsh said his goal was to raise general awareness for poverty housing.

Marsh said participants for the event had access to tents, but they were hoping not to use them so they could keep the poverty experience realistic.

Lisa Wojcik, a sophomore family social services major, also slept overnight in the MLK commons.

“I want to raise awareness for poverty and show that NIU has a Habitat for Humanity chapter, and hopefully get people involved,” Wojcik said.

She also said her roommate was going to drop off pajamas, pillows and blankets for her.

“We thought about doing the event for two nights, but it is supposed to rain,” Wojcik said.