Students sleep in boxes for good cause

Tonight some Roanoke College students will sleep outside on the Back Quad with nothing but cardboard boxes for shelter.

Shack Attack, Roanoke College's primary fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity, encourages teams of students to raise money by building shacks out of repurposed material and spending a night sleeping in them on campus. This year's participants look forward to the warmer weather predicted for tonight and tomorrow, noting that last year they woke up to frost on their faces.

Participants will receive breakfast and are entered into a "best constructed shack" contest.

The money raised by Shack Attack will go towards funding Habitat projects in the Roanoke Valley. Last year, Shack Attack raised more than $1,500 that was used to sponsor an additional house building project. This year students are hoping to match last year's funds.

Shack Attack has been such a success that Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley is planning to hold its own similar event as a fundraiser next year, to celebrate its affiliate's 30th anniversary, according to Jenny Lee, Habitat spokeswoman.