Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners have kicked off its 26th annual “Sleep Out” with a kick-off slated for Saturday, November 13. The campaign is held to raise awareness about homelessness and to raise funds to help prevent homelessness for local individuals and families.
With the 26th year of the Sleep Out campaign underway, the Plymouth-based nonprofit is raising funds to support the organization’s work to help families address their immediate needs and provide follow-up support through case managers, food shelf access, employment services, housing, and transportation. Through emergency housing assistance, the Sleep Out has prevented homelessness in about 35,000 cases.
This year’s goal for the Sleep Out, which began Nov. 1, is to raise $3 million by the end of the year.
Throughout the campaign, community members may also opt to sleep inside as a way to bring families together and reflect on some of the ways neighbors experience homelessness, which oftentimes includes having to crash on a family member’s or friend’s couch or floor.
Since the Sleep Out began, the nonprofit has collected more than $34 million and has provided help to families in the nonprofit’s service area of Hamel, Long Lake, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minnetonka Beach, Orono, Plymouth, and Wayzata.
Community members are invited to attend the Sleep Out Kickoff on Nov. 13 from 7-9 pm, in the parking lot at Interfaith Outreach, 1605 County Rd. 101 N., Plymouth. The event will offer a fire pit for marshmallow roasting, a food station, music, and a short program.
Those who are planning on sleeping out this year are encouraged to do so in their backyard, car, or other location following the event.
Also, as part of the Sleep Out, the nonprofit will rally donations on Give to the Max Day on Nov. 18. According to Interfaith Outreach, gifts of up to $200,000 received by Nov. 18 will be matched by a generous donor.
For more information on the Sleep Out, and how to participate, visit https://iocp.org/donations/thesleepout.
Reach the staff at the MSR at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.