COEUR d'ALENE - Seven people huddled around a fire burning in a low, metal barrel on the lawn of St. Pius X Catholic Church on Friday night.

The skies were clear, but the temperature was in the mid-20s and frigid. The cold weather was not a deterrent to those who slept in tents to show their support for the homeless.

The fourth annual Campout for the Homeless, organized by Coeur d'Alene resident Steve Bell, brought in more than 1,000 pounds of blankets, sleeping bags, warm clothing, canned food and other necessities that were donated to Fresh Start, Inc.

Bell said about 100 people stopped by throughout the event, which began at 5 p.m. and lasted until campers awakened Saturday morning.

"It's a pay-it-forward event," Bell said. "I've seen so many generous people. When I first started this, there was kind of a different attitude in the community with some people. And now I've seen so many people come forward."

Bell said he was inspired to start the homeless campouts after his son, Shane, also of Coeur d'Alene, organized one in college.

"It's also an event that's not just about a time and a place," Shane said. "It's about setting a pattern of people getting together face-to-face. Whether you're homeless or you're not homeless, whether you live in a mansion on the lake, or whether you live in a tent by I-90, I think it's really an event that breaks down so many barriers between so many people. That's what makes it really special, you don't know when you're here who's homeless, who has a house. Everybody comes here and they're equal."

The campout was an evening for collecting donations, but it also served as an opportunity for people to make connections, discuss the economy and share personal stories.

Dan Sebulsky of Moyie Springs brought firewood to the campout. He said part of his desire to join the campout came from reading one of Steve's recent articles.

"It brought the awareness of how many homeless there were in Coeur d'Alene," he said. "I know there was a lot of homeless in Boundary County and Bonner County but I was actually surprised to see that many or hear that many in Kootenai County."

Sebulsky said his wife was also enthusiastic to donate.

"She went through her closet, through all her clothes and spent all day yesterday, and we brought six bags of clothes," he said. "We just thought we want to help."

Ryan Guinn, 40, of Post Falls, was open to talk about spending eight years of his life on the streets and fighting addiction. He was in his mid-20s when he lost his job as a welder while living in California.

"When I got fired, I got ticked off," he said. "I didn't have money for rent and so it was kind of embarrassing. I'd already couch surfed for over a year or so before that ... I'd burned all my bridges."

Guinn said people didn't even know he was homeless because he hid it well, even though he was sleeping in doorways and dumpsters and singing on street corners for money. He is now stable, five years completely sober and ready to greet each day with a smile.

"Go out to Jesus with everything you can, with everything you are, because he is the only power that can save you," he said. "I'm a perfect example of what God does. He saved me from death."

Information on the Idaho Finance and Housing Association's website, www.idahohousing.com, identified 1,781 homeless men, women and children in Idaho on the night of Jan. 30, 2013. November is also National Homeless Awareness Month.