Helping hands: Bridge of Hope Centre County’s ‘Night In A Car’ fundraiser returns. How to help
Would you spend the night in your car? Uncomfortable, cramped, noisy, not very private ... and not our first choice.
On Friday, June 26, we are hosting “Night In A Car,” an event to give us just a taste of what living out of a car might feel like. The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of — and funds for — families in Centre County who have faced homelessness in some way.
We are choosing to do what many families have had to do — spend the night in a car.
This year, “Night In A Car” will be hosted by Oakwood Presbyterian Church, 1865 Waddle Road, State College. This is also our first year of hosting this event in the summer! We previously experienced the discomfort of cold, rainy, and even snowy conditions while trying to stay warm and dry in our cars. This year we can only imagine the discomfort of heat, humidity, mosquitos, and a sun that sets pretty late. But homelessness is a year-round problem, not a seasonal one.
Want to participate in another way? Join the #AnythingButABed challenge! The scope of homelessness is vast, and many don’t realize that being unhoused can take many forms. Take part in this challenge by spending the night on a couch, on the floor, in a recliner, in a tent ... you get the idea. If it’s not a bed, it counts!
Whether joining in-person or remotely, we invite you to engage in opening your eyes and hearts to those experiencing housing insecurity. Register for our event, build your team, find supporters, and help us reach our target goal.
We are also adding some community and family fun. Come out to Oakwood Presbyterian between 6-8 p.m. on June 26 to engage in an evening of yard games, activities like face painting and balloon artistry, and refreshments, all for free. Learn about the work that Bridge of Hope is doing to end family homelessness in Centre County, and how sleeping in our cars — or #anythingbutabed — will help.
We’re also looking for event sponsors. Are you looking for a way to promote your business or organization while giving back to our local community? Bridge of Hope Centre County will work with you to find unique opportunities to meet your marketing needs.
Please consider the level of sponsorship that you would like to pledge towards our “Night In A Car” 2026 event and how we can best recognize your contribution. We are happy to accommodate your business.
Learn more and register for our event at bit.ly/nightinacar or our website, centre.bridgeofhopeinc.org. Email us at tirzah@centre.bridgeofhopeinc.org.
Tirzah Gibboney is Bridge of Hope Centre County’s director and neighborhood resource specialist.