PORTLAND (WGME) — The sun was up for about 15 and a half hours Friday, the longest day of the year, and some folks in Portland are using every minute of daylight to raise awareness about homelessness in the city.

It’s the Preble Street Homeless Voices for Justice annual Summer Solstice sit-out. The event portrays a day in the life of a homeless person and highlights the decisions and the struggles they face every day.

Organizers say Mainers understand the dangers of homelessness through the cold winter months, but tend to forget about it in the summer. Homelessness actually increases during the summer: local food pantries are serving now record numbers and homeless shelters are overflowing.