Once registered, our team offers a resourceful toolkit to help create a meaningful Sleep Out experience from wherever you will be sleeping: the floor of your apartment, in a backyard if you have access, a balcony or driveway.
Remember, the Sleep Out is meant to be a night of solidarity with the 4.2 million young people who experience homelessness each year. Many of these youth report couch surfing when they first become unstably housed. But our goal is not to replicate their experience or pretend to be homeless. We are stepping outside of our comfort zones to send a message to these young people — who have so often been ignored — that we care. And we can do that from anywhere.
A virtual Sleep Out means that you are sleeping somewhere safe but cueing up a few videos with stories from Covenant House California youth, participating in a reflection activity, and still connecting to our mission in a meaningful way.
We will provide you with videos, written stories, and activities to fill your night, and you can follow along with your fellow Sleepers on social media (@covenanthousecalifornia) and the hashtag #chsleepout.
You can customize your experience by sleeping out with your teams or family members (if you feel safe), deciding to shut off your heater or forgo blankets for the night, saying no to pajamas in favor of the jeans you wore that day, or giving up your phone charger. If you’d like help figuring out how to make the night meaningful, our team is available: [email protected] or 508-274-3848
Once you have a place to sleep that’s safe and legal (for example, your apartment), the level of preparation is up to you. We’ll share reminders, activities, and videos throughout the night of Friday, March 19th, so keep an eye on your email as well as the Covenant House California Instagram (@covenanthousecalifornia) to follow along.
Sleep Out registration closes the day of the event.
Keeping your supporters, friends, and family updated about your Sleep Out is important. Not only are the funds and awareness you raise vital for youth at Covenant House California, but transparency helps your network understand why you’re home instead of on the street and that their gift to Covenant House still matters greatly.
Here’s a sample message that you can share before Friday:
This year, I signed on to Sleep Out on the street for a night to raise funds for youth overcoming homelessness at Covenant House California. Unfortunately, due to concerns about coronavirus, I am no longer able to join the Sleep Out at Covenant House California.
I’m disappointed, of course, but whether I get in a sleeping bag on the concrete outside or on the floor of my apartment, I’m proud of the movement I’ve joined to help shelter and support youth facing homelessness. These young people are the most vulnerable among us, not only to something like coronavirus, but to so many other illnesses, both physical and mental, that come directly from the trauma of living on the streets. Covenant House provides them with the life-saving care that they so urgently need, and their doors remain open for every young person seeking help.
Our support is their lifeline, which is why I am continuing my fundraising efforts. I hope you take notice of my commitment to these incredible young people at Covenant House and honor their resilience with a gift on my Sleep Out page: [INSERT YOUR PERSONAL FUNDRAISING PAGE URL]
We will update this page and your participant dashboard with additional messages and shareable graphics, so check back here or email [email protected]
Get The Word Out