Linn County Veteran Affairs and the Community Circle of Care will hold their ninth annual Sleep Out for the Homeless on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids. The event will run from 3 p.m. November 8 through 6 a.m. November 9.
The public is invited to participate by sleeping outside in cardboard boxes. Cardboard will be provided. Registration is $10 and includes a Sleep Out t-shirt.
“Our goal is to raise awareness of the problem of homelessness in Linn County and to raise money for the shelters that serve those in need,” said Don Tyne, director of Linn County Veteran Affairs and Co-Chair of the Sleep Out. “Even if people can’t sleep out, we hope they will stop by and join us for the activities and entertainment. This is a family-friendly event,” said Tyne.
Last year’s event raised $11,000 for nine local shelters. All donations and registration fees this year will be distributed to the following 10 Linn County homeless assistance programs:
• Area Substance Abuse Council Transitional Housing
• Catherine McAuley Center Transitional Housing Program
• Catholic Worker House
• Family Promise of Linn County
• Foundation 2 Youth Shelter
• HACAP Transitional Housing
• Mission of Hope
• Salvation Army Emergency Lodging Program
• Waypoint Domestic Violence Program / Madge Phillips Center
• Willis Dady Emergency Shelter
Last year, more than 5,000 people were served by local homeless assistance programs and about half of those served were children.
Donations can be made during the event, online at www.sleepoutcr.org or mailed with checks made payable to:
“Sleep Out Project” Community Circle of Care, Inc. ATTN: Sleep Out for the Homeless P.O. Box 1305 Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-1305
Hot snacks and beverages will be donated by local partners. Indoor restrooms, security and family entertainment will also be provided. Cardboard will be provided to create a makeshift shelter. Sleep Out participants should dress warmly and bring their own sleeping bags or blankets.
Sleep Out organizers are also accepting donations of household items during the Sleep Out to help people who are transitioning out of local shelters to their own home or apartment. Common items requested include:
• kitchen trash cans
• trash bags
• light bulbs
• toilet paper
• can openers
• new pillows, sheets, pillow cases
• brooms, mops, dust pans
• cleaning supplies
For more information on how to participate, please visit the Sleep Out website at www.sleepoutcr.org or contact the Linn County Veteran Affairs Office at (319) 892-5160 or [email protected]
About Community Circle of Care, Inc.
Community Circle of Care, Inc. is an all-volunteer charity dedicated to increasing community support for local homeless programs that house and feed homeless men, women and children. Community Circle of Care is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity organized in December 2001.