Date: April 24, 2020
Time: 8:00pm - 8:00am EST
Location: Online (read more)
Event Coordinator: Colleen Veldt
Phone: 212-727-4990
Email: [email protected]
What is expected of Sleep Out participants?
Participants should approach the Sleep Out with an open heart, an open mind, and a willingness to work hard for something outside of your comfort zone. Participants will need to identify a place to Sleep Out (somewhere safe and legal) and can join a national livestream on April 24 or utilize the Virtual Sleep Out toolkit to plan a meaningful night.
Fundraising is an important part of the Sleep Out experience, as the money raised is put to work immediately to shelter and care for youth at Covenant House. Participants are expected to set a fundraising goal and work to reach it using the online portal provided. The Sleep Out team is available to support you every step of the way with tips, tricks, and shareable content that will help you reach your goal.
Why do I have to fundraise? And how much do I need to raise?
The Sleep Out is a unique experience that we hope encourages awareness, empathy, and understanding for the immeasurable odds that young people overcoming homelessness face. But while awareness of a problem is important, it isn’t a solution.
We ask Sleep Out participants to raise critical funds that allow Covenant House to offer safety, shelter, and support to these young people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. By fundraising, Sleep Out participants become part of the solution for youth facing homelessness.
Given the current state of the world, we have waived the minimum fundraising goal for this Sleep Out. Instead, all participants should set a fundraising goal that feels like a challenge (we suggest $1,000). Alternatively, you can set a goal for the number of donations you want to collect (we suggest 20). Sleep Out is a grassroots fundraiser and the more people you reach helps spread the word about youth homelessness.
Our team is available every step of the way to provide the tips, materials, and guidance, as well as information on how the funds you raise help young people who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. We have adapted our Fundraising 101 Guide with the steps to get started.
I want to Sleep Out. What’s my next step?
Register online or contact us at [email protected] or 212-727-4990.
Why is the Sleep Out virtual this year?
All non-essential visits to Covenant House site have been temporarily suspended in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, as are all volunteer and in-person fundraising events. We're disappointed, and we know many of you are as well, but whether we sleep on the concrete outside or on the floor of our apartments, we are proud to be part of a movement to shelter and protect youth experiencing 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, which means they need us now more than ever. Read more about what a virtual Sleep Out experience looks like.
Please know that as soon as it’s deemed safe, we will be in touch with (many) invitations to come back to Covenant House, including future Sleep Outs.
Can a friend or family member Sleep Out with me?
Yes! Please encourage them to register in advance so that they can create their own fundraising page and receive any updates directly. You can also create a team page and invite friends, family, and co-workers to join. Please contact us at [email protected] or 212-727-4990 with any questions.
I received some donations in cash and checks. What do I do with them?
You can add cash or check donations to your page through your Participant Dashboard. Here's how:
Once you have entered the gift, please mail to our office (be sure to include your name in a note or the memo line):
Covenant House
Attn: Sleep Out: Women & Allies Unite
461 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
Get The Word Out