On February 3, 2018, Huntsville’s Youth Council in partnership with The Door Youth Centre are hosting the second annual Sleep Outside event to raise awareness for Youth Homelessness.
Starting at 10:00 a.m. in Civic Square, members of Huntsville’s Town & Youth Council, Huntsville High School students and community members will gather, armed with cardboard, tarps and donated sleeping bags to get ready for the evening’s sleep out.
“Youth Homelessness exists in our community, even though it is not something we visually see,” said Ryan Clark, Chair of Huntsville’s Youth Council. “We hope that this event can shed some light on the facts about youth homelessness, spread the word and erase the negative stigma associated with homelessness in our society.”
The Sleep Outside event will run all night long regardless of the weather conditions and will be in support of The Door Youth Centre, a community organization dedicated to providing programs, services and mentorship for ‘teens in tough places’.
James Hunt, Director of The Door, explains how the funds raised would assist the organization on a few upcoming initiatives aimed at developing housing opportunities for youth in crisis: “Huntsville is in need of a better support system for our youth with respect to housing options, so we are currently working toward setting up a short-term emergency housing network in Huntsville and a long term housing option for youth in crisis that would also have a life skills building element. The funds raised would greatly assist these initiatives getting off the ground.”
Members of the community are welcome to stop by to show their support anytime during the event on February 3 at Civic Square, 37 Main Street East, Huntsville. Community members who wish to know more about the fundraising side of this initiative should contact James Hunt at The Door Youth Centre at 705-789-4748.
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After the weekend of “cardboard boxes” is over..
The ostriches can put their head back in the sand…
The volunteers go home…
The homeless continue
to try and survive!!
Each year this challenges me personally .. I was an ostrich seeing nothing!! Then I heard about this..
Then I saw for myself…
was overwhelmed! and put my head back in the sand! Questioning :How could I possibly help here?
What can iI do?
I dont know where to begin! Many dont even see it yet..
took me years..! Sorry to say!
Buy I challenged myself to be open and really “Listen & See!”
Many hands simply doing one thing they personally hear inside their own heart… helps make a difference!
I can learn to find where and how to help!!
A smile.. encouraging word.. a hot drink or sandwich.. money donated to help.. be friendly.. open yr heart to become compassionate.. volunteering in these areas.. still voicing their needs when they cant to others by sharing this conversation… praying for them because you cant get out there.. We can All play an important role
alongside them!
I just realize if we simply do what we hear our heart challenge us to do…
We will become Active in treating others how we would want to be treated in extremely difficult circumstances!!
Without judgment because we are All still walking out “day by day” our journey called life! AND we dont know whats ahead for us either!! What affects one person affects another!
Quantum physics even proves it!
So we can find Our place.. alongside others.. supporting “This Need in Our Community” Starting with the betterment of “The Homeless”! It began with one and the numbers are still growing as hands and hearts come together for “Our Community Family!”
Thanks to Everyone who has been Active before me! and those like me … joining them!