One probably drives by them on a daily basis, but many don't give the homeless a second thought. Pastor Eric Johns is doing more than just thinking about them. He will be on the streets living with them for five days and nights.

"What I want to get people to do is think about it, that there are people in need. Not just the homeless, but the working poor, families that are in need, especially this time of year. We just want to help out," said Pastor Eric Johns, Buffalo Dream Center.

This is the 19th year Pastor Johns has spent a week living on the streets. He says, in that time, there's been a lot of progress in getting veterans into permanent housing. But the opposite is the case when it comes to homeless women. 

And Pastor Johns says they're seeing an increase in the number of families and working poor who have a place to rest their heads needing their services. That's why they're looking for donations for their Boxes of Love program.

"This year, we're going to help 3,000 families with food. About 5,000 kids are going to get a wrapped Christmas gift. And that's what this week is really all about that people would sponsor me while I'm living on the street and give toward that, so that week in December, we can help families here in Western New York," said Johns.

This year, two men from Canada will be spending the first day and night with Pastor Johns and take what they learn back across the border to help address homelessness in their communities.

"A lot of times, people want to step over international borders, like all the problems are in Haiti or in Africa, but addressing issues that happen like an hour from our home, this is only an hour from where we live, so coming and living here is a different type of mission," said Pastor Jamie Shurr.

Josh Foo, a firefighter added, "Kind of live a day and a night in their shoes and I come from Hamilton. I'm a firefighter in Hamilton and there's a lot of poverty and homelessness in Hamilton, so I hope we can kind of spread this throughout and really help out."

Anyone who would like to donate to Boxes of Love can visit buffalodreamcenter.org.