Helping hands: Why Out of the Cold’s Sleep Out Weekend is more than a fundraiser
Out of the Cold is hosting Sleep Out Weekend April 10-11. Sleep Out Weekend is more than just a fundraiser — it’s an opportunity for our community to come together in awareness, compassion and action.
Each year, individuals and families in our area experience homelessness and housing instability. While many of us go home each night to warmth and security, others face uncertainty about where they will sleep. Sleep Out Weekend invites participants to step outside their comfort zones and spend one night sleeping outdoors (safely and voluntarily) to raise awareness and critical funds for Out of the Cold.
Participants can take part individually, as families, faith groups, school groups, businesses, or teams of friends. Some choose to sleep in their backyard, on a porch, at their place of worship, or at a designated community location. The goal is not to replicate homelessness — because we know that a single night cannot capture that experience — but rather to create empathy, spark conversation, and inspire meaningful support.
Leading up to the event, participants ask friends, family, and colleagues to sponsor their effort through donations. Every dollar raised directly supports Out of the Cold’s mission to provide safe shelter, meals, case management, and pathways toward stable housing for individuals experiencing homelessness in our community.
To get involved visit OOTC’s website and view our activity calendar for more information!
Sleep Out Weekend is a powerful reminder that homelessness is not someone else’s issue — it’s a community issue. When we come together, we can ensure that no one has to face the cold alone.
Whether you choose to participate by sleeping out, sponsoring someone who is, or helping spread the word, your involvement makes a real and lasting impact.
Join us. Raise awareness. Be part of the solution.
Together, we can turn one night outside into lasting change.
Jordan Veneziano is the executive director of Out of the Cold in State College.