Dear friends,
This is my first official Sleep Out and I could not be more excited.
And, there is so much to pause and consider.
The rising costs of single-family homes and apartments are destabilizing families and impacting every other part of family, school and community life. The jobs that pay living wages often require training and education that is out of reach. The ability to go back to work in any industry is directly impacted by the lack of availability and affordability of child care.
The Sleep Out is remarkable. I am in awe of the impact this effort creates each year. For eight weeks, we come together to raise awareness and funds in order to prevent homelessness and create opportunities for everyone to thrive. The revenue generated during this time of year is 40% of Interfaith Outreach’s total operating budget.
This is important.
People in our community, in communities all over the country, are struggling. And, for the last 26 years, Sleep Out supporters have stepped up to demonstrate that in this community we take care of each other. Our entire Interfaith family – including our highly engaged clients, donors, volunteers and staff – are all working side by side to make life better for all. The Sleep Out is the ultimate example of collective compassion in action, creating awareness about the needs families and kids face while engaging in solutions. It’s how we continue to help each other through times of crisis and find hope for the future.
Thank you for participating and proving that we can and must take action together.
With gratitude,
Kevin Ward
Executive Director