It was a bitterly cold night when I stood outside (and I admit, inside) during Freezin' for Hunger for the Waukesha JanBoree.

The wind chill was negative I-don't-want-to-know and my boots weren't as warm as I expected. The boots actually weren't warm at all.

So, there I was at Lowell Park, freezing, wearing three sweatpants and one pair of jeans, five shirts, a jacket, a stocking cap (which I still need to return to a freelancer), two pairs of gloves and a partridge in a pear tree. I couldn't help but think that on a night like Friday night, it would be almost impossible to survive the elements if forced to camp out all night.

Imagine sleeping in a car or a tent. When I was in college, I took a camping class in April 2008. Yes, camping. I know, it was a slacker course but it ended up testing my patience more than any other class I ever took. Besides the druggies who ducked into the woods to light up their marijuana (by the way, I heard a rumor they failed the camping class), it ended up snowing but not before rain flooded the tent. So, wet tent, wet sleeping bag, freezing temperatures. Not a good night but at least I only had to make it through the night. A quick trip the next day to the laundromat to dry the sleeping bag, I was as good as new.

But imagine, night after night, trying to find a warm place to sleep on a night when the wind chill is far below zero. Thankfully the Hebron House of Hospitality was able to find a seasonal shelter and get it up and running before the bitter cold set in.

Freezin' for Hunger, which was started by Police Officer Tim Probst, brought the community together for food donations, as well as cash donations, and the items collected will be used to help feed those who have fallen on unfortunate financial times.

The event is wonderful. It benefits the Food Pantry of Waukesha County while bringing attention to the problems the homeless face. In this economy, there is plenty of needs.

But is that enough? A warm place to sleep and food to nourish the body?

I decided for awhile to sit back and watch the activity of those who were having a great, fun time at the JanBoree. I saw the smiles on the children's faces as they didn't care about the cold temperatures because they had their sleds and they had snow. I saw the parents spend precious moments with their significant others, huddled by a fire to keep warm.

As I was sitting back, I realized it can get lonely when you are watching everyone else have a great time. You can be around so many people who are having a good time, but if you aren't part of that moment, you can feel alone.

So only imagine how much worse it is to be walking the streets, to have no permanent home to return to at night and to worry about finding a job when it seems like there aren't any available. Then to make things worse, society might help with the basic needs but you are still left alone.

You get looks as people cross the street to avoid you. You might have a hot meal, but what about the general pleasure of sharing life with someone? What about developing relationships and friendships?

Like it or not, agree or disagree, there is a negative view that is automatically given to the homeless. There is a perception that it is their fault that they are in that situation. But shouldn't we look past that viewpoint and look into their hearts? Shouldn't we give more than just a can of vegetables or the change in our pocket?

The need is beyond the food and the warm shelter.

Shouldn't we be giving our hearts as well?