Sleep Out for the Homeless
"Will you help?" -- by Donna Townsell
I joined the Board of Directors for Bethlehem House, Inc. in 2001. It all started with a sweet little nine-year-oldgirl who invited me to her birthday party while I was there volunteering. I attended that party, and it left a lasting impression. Growing up, most parents plan elaborate parties for their children -- Play World, swimming parties, bunking parties. However, this little girl enjoyed her birthday at a homeless shelter with children that she hardly knew. As I drove home that day I counted my blessings and wondered, "what can I do?"
Over dinner with my husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, early in 2003, we decided that a "sleep-out" to raise awareness and empathy for homeless families would be an excellent signature event for the shelter. Bethlehem House, Inc. is not one of the most visible United Way organizations in Conway. We haven't traditionally held the big dinner/auction fundraisers that other groups do. We needed something that people would associate with the shelter, and we wanted it to be fun, meaningful, and at the heart of its purpose. Thus, the "cardboard box" Sleep Out was born.
The first Sleep Out was planned rather quickly. We held it in Simon Park in June 2003. We had several people come out for dinner and music, and about 35 of them spent the night under the stars. It succeeded in raising awareness, and donations starting arriving the next week. The Board of Directors actually deemed it a success since we did raise a little money. And, having a competitive nature, I couldn't stop there. The second annual Sleep Out was held May 7th, 2004. If you couldn't make it, you sure missed a wonderful evening! The weather was perfect, the crowd really grew, and approximately 125 people slept in boxes. WOW! What an enormous growth rate from one year to the next! So, I guess you know what this means! How big will it be next year? If you joined us at Laurel Park this year, we truly appreciate your participation and hope you enjoyed yourself. File this away in your mind for next year. We will be back, we will learn from our past events, and we will make it even better!
In the meantime, if you want to do something to help, please stop by the shelter at 930 Faulkner Street. We have a "wish list" that can be viewed on our website or you can call us at 329-4862. Donations are always graciously accepted. If you have a skill that you would be willing to share, we are always looking for willing volunteers to help. There are many ways you can ease the devastation of homelessness in your community, should you feel that calling. The question is not "how"? The question is merely, "will you"?
