15th Annual Neighbor to Neighbor Sleep-Out
December 7, 2019
A youth-led awareness and fundraising event at Plymouth.
Register by November 23!
Register by November 23!
What is the Neighbor to Neighbor Sleep-Out?
The Neighbor to Neighbor Homelessness Prevention Sleep-Out begins with a community Soup Supper and Interfaith Vigil. Afterwards, participating high school aged youth will participate in educational breakout sessions to learn about homelessness in our community. Then, youth will sleep outside in a cardboard box to raise awareness for homelessness.
The Neighbor to Neighbor Homelessness Prevention Sleep-Out begins with a community Soup Supper and Interfaith Vigil. Afterwards, participating high school aged youth will participate in educational breakout sessions to learn about homelessness in our community. Then, youth will sleep outside in a cardboard box to raise awareness for homelessness.
Our Goals:
How does the Sleep-Out help our community?
How can I get my faith community involved?
What do we need to bring?
Donation Information
Throughout the event, attendees will have the opportunity to donate money to Neighbor to Neighbor’s Homelessness Prevention Program. 100% of the funds raised at the Sleep Out are given to N2N. One of the large challenges as we tackle homelessness is ending the cycle. Thus, we have partnered with an organization that keeps people from falling into homelessness. Many families on the border of poverty are thrown into homelessness due to unexpected circumstances. N2N proposes to end that cycle by offering rental assistance at an average assistance amount of up to $300. And they boast great results! N2N followed up with clients, and, of those contacted, more than 90% are still in their own homes! Also, it makes financial sense. It is estimated that, once a family does become homeless, the per household costs of a temporary shelter housing, emergency room visits, agency services, food baskets, and the new housing total $5,000 or more per family. A cost of $300 per family looks pretty good compared to $5,000! For more information, see https://www.n2n.org/
Please write all checks to Plymouth UCC with N2N Sleep Out in the memo line. All of the funds raised a the Sleep-Out go directly to Neighbor to Neighbor’s Homelessness Prevention Program.
The Sleep-Out also accepts donations of cold weather gear for Homeward Alliance, which attacks the issue of homelessness from a different angle. Their mission is to provide homeless men, women and children with the supplies that they need to survive on the streets and the support and companionship that they need to navigate the path from homelessness to self-sufficiency. The Alliance provides those experiencing homelessness with outdoor equipment, durable basic clothing, and hygiene items during the struggle to regain self-sufficiency. These items give those on the streets a better chance of finding jobs and staying warm in our bitter Colorado winters. These donations also allow homeless and near-homeless children a chance to participate in school. Many homeless people cannot stay in shelters due to a lack of space in the shelters or existing drug or alcohol problems. For more information, see www.homewardalliance.org
What we’re collecting is gently used outdoor gear:
Note: Homeless Gear does not distribute or collect knives, stoves, or lanterns
More information:
Co-Coordinators Maggie Houser & Bob Jeffrey
Email
- We want to increase our own compassion for people facing homelessness by experiencing homelessness for a night.
- We want to inform people in Fort Collins about the serious and often-overlooked problem of homelessness in Larimer County.
- We want to bring together people of multiple faiths towards a common cause.
- We want to do something physical to help:
- We want to raise money for the Neighbor 2 Neighbor's Homeless Prevention Program, a non-profit that provides rental assistance for people on the brink of homelessness.
- We want to collect outdoor gear and outdoor clothing for the non-profit Homeward Alliance, which provides warm clothes and sheltering equipment to those experiencing homelessness
How does the Sleep-Out help our community?
- Donations to Neighbor to Neighbor’s Homelessness Prevention Program help local families stay in their homes. In 2018, we raised over $15,000 which provided rent assistance for more than 50 households.
- Cold weather gear is donated to Homeward Alliance who distribute it to those in need.
How can I get my faith community involved?
- RSVP your youth group for the Sleep-Out portion by November 23, 2019. Faith Partnership Covenant
- Each youth that will sleep out at Plymouth will need to register by November 23, 2019. There is a $5.00 cost for each youth sleeping out. Youth Participant RSVP
- We require every faith community to provide chaperones to Sleep-Out with their youth, a ratio of 1 adult to every 5 youth. All chaperones staying overnight at Plymouth Congregational UCC will need to provide a current cleared background check to Mandy Hall in the Plymouth office by November 23, 2019.
- Are you looking to attend only the Soup Supper and Interfaith Vigil? RSVP you and your youth to attend on Neighbor to Neighbor’s Event page at https://www.n2n.org/category/events/
- We would love to come to you and present information! Just let Maggie or Bob know when your group meets, and two youth will come to talk about their experiences with the Sleep-Out.
- Start talking about the Sleep-Out with your congregation and ask them to gather gently used outdoor clothing or outdoor gear that will be donated to Homeward Alliance. Also ask members to consider donating money to Neighbor to Neighbor Homelessness Prevention Program, the recipient of this event’s donations.
What do we need to bring?
- Kindness and compassion for those facing homelessness and a desire to make a difference
- $5.00 for event costs. In addition, we are encouraging participants to donate either money for HPI or outdoor gear. This isn't required, but we're hoping to highlight what a difference youth make in our community.
- A cardboard box or tent. The best boxes in Fort Collins are available at the La-Z-Boy on Harmony Road or at any of appliance stores in town. Call ahead and let them know what you're up to, and many businesses will save boxes for you. We will also have boxes that can be used by participants if they are unable to bring one of their own.
- Duct tape to hold the boxes together
- Extra cardboard and/or newspaper for stuffing your box for extra warmth
- Blankets
- Sleeping bag(s) – We suggest layering sleeping bags for extra warmth. Keep these in the building until you go to bed.
- Layers of warm clothes (especially long underwear, gloves, and a hat!)
- Plastic tarps for over and under the tent (helpful in case of snow!)
Donation Information
Throughout the event, attendees will have the opportunity to donate money to Neighbor to Neighbor’s Homelessness Prevention Program. 100% of the funds raised at the Sleep Out are given to N2N. One of the large challenges as we tackle homelessness is ending the cycle. Thus, we have partnered with an organization that keeps people from falling into homelessness. Many families on the border of poverty are thrown into homelessness due to unexpected circumstances. N2N proposes to end that cycle by offering rental assistance at an average assistance amount of up to $300. And they boast great results! N2N followed up with clients, and, of those contacted, more than 90% are still in their own homes! Also, it makes financial sense. It is estimated that, once a family does become homeless, the per household costs of a temporary shelter housing, emergency room visits, agency services, food baskets, and the new housing total $5,000 or more per family. A cost of $300 per family looks pretty good compared to $5,000! For more information, see https://www.n2n.org/
Please write all checks to Plymouth UCC with N2N Sleep Out in the memo line. All of the funds raised a the Sleep-Out go directly to Neighbor to Neighbor’s Homelessness Prevention Program.
The Sleep-Out also accepts donations of cold weather gear for Homeward Alliance, which attacks the issue of homelessness from a different angle. Their mission is to provide homeless men, women and children with the supplies that they need to survive on the streets and the support and companionship that they need to navigate the path from homelessness to self-sufficiency. The Alliance provides those experiencing homelessness with outdoor equipment, durable basic clothing, and hygiene items during the struggle to regain self-sufficiency. These items give those on the streets a better chance of finding jobs and staying warm in our bitter Colorado winters. These donations also allow homeless and near-homeless children a chance to participate in school. Many homeless people cannot stay in shelters due to a lack of space in the shelters or existing drug or alcohol problems. For more information, see www.homewardalliance.org
What we’re collecting is gently used outdoor gear:
Note: Homeless Gear does not distribute or collect knives, stoves, or lanterns
- backpacks
- sleeping bags
- stuff sacks
- tents
- small tarps
More information:
Co-Coordinators Maggie Houser & Bob Jeffrey
Schedule
Saturday, December 7th, 2019
3 pm Start setting up boxes and signs at all locations.
Please take donations from any parents who are dropping off youth. Note: duct tape does not stick to the boxes after about 4:00 PM because it's too cold, so set up early!
4:30 Check in for Neighbor to Neighbor Soup Supper begins
5:00 – 6:00 Neighbor to Neighbor Soup Supper
6:00 – 6:15 Transition outside for the Interfaith Vigil
6:15 – 7:00 Interfaith Vigil at Plymouth UCC
7:00 - 7:30 Ice-breaker games with youth and chaperones
7:30 - 9:00 Three educational breakout sessions
- Panel Discussion on the Politics of Poverty
- Panel Discussion on Homeless Outreach
- Packing hygiene packets for Homeward Alliance
9:15 - 10:15 Large-group activity – Homelessness Simulation
10:15-12:30 Free- time outside
Please encourage the playing of games or sports, getting hot drinks, playing music outside, etc.
1:00 am Curfew and lights out.
All participants need to be in their boxes or in their sleeping locations inside the building. The building should remain open all night for potty breaks, warm up opportunities, or a post box-collapse sleeping zone. We usually have a few sick or exhausted participants stay inside for their health and safety. Check in with those chaperones on watch if you have an issue.
Sunday, December 8th, 2019
7:30 am Wake-up Time and Breakfast provided by Plymouth’s Outreach and Mission Board
8:45 Open donation tables at all locations.
9:00 – 10:00 Plymouth youth and friends attend first service.
11:00 Plymouth youth and those at Plymouth Clean Up during second service
Break down boxes and clean up. Take duct tape off of boxes and pile the boxes together. Consider asking a friendly parent to take the boxes to recycling centers.
12 Noon Close all donation tables
3 pm Start setting up boxes and signs at all locations.
Please take donations from any parents who are dropping off youth. Note: duct tape does not stick to the boxes after about 4:00 PM because it's too cold, so set up early!
4:30 Check in for Neighbor to Neighbor Soup Supper begins
5:00 – 6:00 Neighbor to Neighbor Soup Supper
6:00 – 6:15 Transition outside for the Interfaith Vigil
6:15 – 7:00 Interfaith Vigil at Plymouth UCC
7:00 - 7:30 Ice-breaker games with youth and chaperones
7:30 - 9:00 Three educational breakout sessions
- Panel Discussion on the Politics of Poverty
- Panel Discussion on Homeless Outreach
- Packing hygiene packets for Homeward Alliance
9:15 - 10:15 Large-group activity – Homelessness Simulation
10:15-12:30 Free- time outside
Please encourage the playing of games or sports, getting hot drinks, playing music outside, etc.
1:00 am Curfew and lights out.
All participants need to be in their boxes or in their sleeping locations inside the building. The building should remain open all night for potty breaks, warm up opportunities, or a post box-collapse sleeping zone. We usually have a few sick or exhausted participants stay inside for their health and safety. Check in with those chaperones on watch if you have an issue.
Sunday, December 8th, 2019
7:30 am Wake-up Time and Breakfast provided by Plymouth’s Outreach and Mission Board
8:45 Open donation tables at all locations.
9:00 – 10:00 Plymouth youth and friends attend first service.
11:00 Plymouth youth and those at Plymouth Clean Up during second service
Break down boxes and clean up. Take duct tape off of boxes and pile the boxes together. Consider asking a friendly parent to take the boxes to recycling centers.
12 Noon Close all donation tables