Community Corner

Youth Church Group to Sleep Out for the Homeless

The youth group from Holy Name of Mary Church is holding its fifth annual "Sleepout' this weekend. Proceeds from the event will benefit Caring for the Homeless of Peekskill Inc.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following release was submitted by Carl Barnes, the youth minister at Holy Name of Mary Church. If you would like to post your news to Patch, click here.

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Croton-on-Hudson—Holy Name of Mary’s Youth Group, “God Squad,” will tempt December’s chilly temperatures during its annual Homeless Awareness “Sleepout” on Saturday, Dec. 1. 

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 Members of the Youth Group will brave the cold by sleeping out in boxes on the front steps of the Holy Name of Mary Parish Center located at 110 Grand Street in Croton-on-Hudson from 4 p.m. Saturday through 11 a.m. Sunday, as they raise money to benefit Caring for the Homeless of Peekskill Inc., also known as CHOP.

"At first, it seems like a challenge, something that you can’t do," said Caroline Barnes, who is returning for second "Sleepout." "Throughout the night you start to really miss the coziness of your own home and then you realize there are millions of homeless people that don’t have a warm home to go back to like we do.  For one night we get to feel what it is like to be homeless and share that feeling of what it’s like all year long with others.  That is what keeps bringing all of us back.”

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CHOP's mission is to alleviate hunger and homelessness in our community by providing temporary housing for homeless adults, and by referring clients to appropriate agencies in order to help them attain independent living. CHOP currently operates three programs; Jan Peek House Shelter for the Homeless, Sunny Donut Free Breakfast Program and Fred’s Pantry at St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

For the fifth straight year, the youth group will continue in its efforts to raise thousands of dollars for the homeless, four years benefiting Caring for the Homeless of Peekskill (CHOP).  To date, "God Squad" has raised $5,140 for CHOP.

Contact Carl Barnes, Holy Name of Mary's Youth Minister, at Carlbarnes12@gmail.com or (914) 263-3111 for more information.


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