Sleep Out Saturday Newsroom

Stay up-to-date with Sleep Out Saturday and stories about homeless families, teens and kids with a visit to the Sleep Out Saturday Blog.

For more information about Sleep Out Saturday, please contact Jennie Gates at (630) 545-0610, ext. 19 or jennie.gates@bridgecommunities.org.

Please mark your calendar for Sleep Out Saturday, November 6th, 2010.

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Sleep Out Saturday funds 4,000+ housing nights - Dec 3, 2009
"I wonder if homeless children ever get used to sleeping in a box or a car, or if they are uncomfortable all the time? Being homeless is very hard, so sometimes people lose hope. I hope homeless people have the courage to make that call (to Bridge Communities)." These are the reflective words that an 11 year old SOS participant shared the morning after she learn about how it felt to be homeless …
Walking Alongside Them - Oct 31, 2009
Just as despair can come to one another only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings. – Elie WieselTen years as a Bridge Communities mentor has taught Hinsdale resident Mary MacKenzie that the most important part of mentoring is making sure people know that they are not alone.She understands that this role requires both a financial and emotional pledge. …
Planning Sleep Out For The First Time... - Oct 22, 2009
But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish. Psalms 9:18Hey, I’m Andy Jack, Middle School Pastor at Christ Church of Oak Brook and my group is participating in Sleep Out Saturday for the first time. I was born, raised, and educated in DuPage County. I received my MA degree in Christian Formation and Ministry from Wheaton College and I am an …
A Taste of What Sleep Out Saturday Means to Participants! - Oct 17, 2009
We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes. – JFKHello again to our readers of the Sleep Out Saturday 2009 blog!It’s now time to feature our second interview of four, and this week you can really get a feel for the tremendous sentiment that comes every year with Sleep Out Saturday. Another big thank you goes out to Michelle Stuhlmacher, from the First United Methodist Church …
From A Veteran SOS Leader 's Perspective - Oct 7, 2009
Everything that is done in the world is done by hope. - Martin Luther King, Jr.Hello again to our readers of the Sleep Out Saturday 2009 blog!This week will feature our first interview of four, and we know it will provide you with some great insight into what Sleep Out Saturday is all about. A big thank you goes out to Sandra Hill, from the First Church of Lombard, for taking the time to speak …
Hope Springs Eternal at Sleep Out Saturday, November 7th! - Oct 1, 2009
Hope is the bedrock of this nation; the belief that our destiny will not be written for us, but by us; by all those men and women who are not content to settle for the world as it is; who have courage to remake the world as it should be. – Barack ObamaWelcome all new and returning readers to our blog for the sixth annual SOS (Sleep Out Saturday) season! Be sure to share this blog address with …
Great news! - Feb 9, 2009
Despite the down turned economy, we have surpassed 2007 fundraising efforts! To date, individuals and groups participating in Sleep Out Saturday 2008 have raised over $115,000! Bridge Communities can now provide more housing, transportation assistance, educational and employment training, tutoring for children and support services for families in crisis! Thank you to everyone who participated! …
SLEEP OUT SATURDAY RALLY - Oct 30, 2008
Last Call for Sleep Out Saturday – Nov. 1 SLEEP OUT SATURDAY RALLY WHO: SOS sleepers, their friends & family, and anyone interested in helping those that become homeless. WHEN: November 1, 2008 6:30-8pm WHERE: Bridge Communities Headquarters – downtown Glen Ellyn 505 Crescent Blvd, Glen Ellyn WHAT: Sleep Out Saturday Rally CBS2 anchor …
What happens when you run out of money? - Oct 23, 2008
There are many reasons why people end up in a homeless situation; those include poor planning, a mother and her children (with no income) leaving an abusive spouse, over spending, or a tragedy that financially depletes the family. Bridge Communities receives approximately 880 phone calls each year from families in a housing crisis. In fact, a one-night survey conducted on January 25, 2007 …
Bridge Communities Turns 20! - Oct 17, 2008
This week Bridge Communities celebrates its 20th Anniversary. In September of 1988 Mark Milligan and Bob Wahlgren volunteered to help out at PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter). “I was struck by how many children were there that evening, the real innocent victims of homelessness are the kids,” Mark told us. He went home wondering what he might be able to do to just make a difference for …
How Will You Pay For College? - Oct 9, 2008
Many of the teens sleeping out on November 1 are planning to attend college in the future. And many of those same teens are lucky enough to have parents who can afford to send them to college or at least help them find a way to afford to attend college. But what if you knew there was no chance for you to go to college? Your world of opportunities would look very different. According to …
Outside Looking In - Oct 4, 2008
On the outside looking in is no place for a high school junior or anyone else! This year’s theme is “Outside Looking In.” Cristy was a high school junior when she and her mother became clients of Bridge Communities. Cristy felt that way when she attended high school. She commented, “I felt unwelcome, I didn’t feel normal….I had to lie because I was too embarrassed to talk about where I had …
What Does It Cost For You To Be You? - Sep 25, 2008
We are very fortunate to live in DuPage County; it’s one of the wealthiest counties in the nation. Employers willing to pay high-skilled workers substantial salaries are based here such a Lucent Technologies, McDonald’s Corporation, Tellabs, Inc, and BP Amoco. The federal government has also located two high profile centers in our county: Argonne and Fermi National Laboratories. The bar seems …
Would you Sleep Out on Saturday, November 1st? - Sep 18, 2008
Welcome to the first of many blogs for the fifth annual SOS (Sleep out Saturday) season. Every week we will post more information about the what, where, when, and how to get involved in SOS 2008. Please feel free to chime in with any questions or comments; we want to hear from you! You can either sleep out with your church or community youth group or ask friends to join you in your backyard. …
Get Ready for Sleep Out Saturday 2008! - Aug 28, 2008
We invite you to register yourself or your group to participate in the 5th Annual Sleep Out Saturday for the Homeless! 100% of all funds raised by individuals and groups go directly to providing services for Bridge Communities' clients! Saturday, November 1, 2008 Rally: Downtown Glen Ellyn 6:30 - 8:00 pm Visit www.sleepoutsaturday.org to register and/or pledge a "sleeper". More information will …
Get revved for THE RALLY! - Nov 1, 2007
The Rally and Sleep Out Saturday is THIS Saturday, November 3rd. It’s here!! Rally Location: 505 Crescent Blvd in downtown Glen Ellyn Schedule of Events 6:30pm The Plural of Sheep band starts rockin’ · Sleepers can pick up their T-shirt, as well as purchase warm cozy ski caps · Sleepers turn in pledge envelopes and cash/checks · Coffee and Hot Cocoa will be served 7 …
What Really is the Minimum Wage in DuPage County? - Nov 1, 2007
$7.75 an hour doesn’t go far The truth of the matter is that a person with a family can’t survive on minimum wage. In Illinois, the minimum wage was just bumped up to $7.75 an hour. At that rate, someone would have to work 20 hours a day, five days a week to be able to barely afford the basic needs in DuPage County for a family of four. We pretty much know that working that much is …
Join Us for Sleep Out Saturday 2007 Rally - Oct 19, 2007
Each year we kick off Sleep Out Saturday with a bang with our county-wide RALLY. Details for the 2007 Rally include: Location: The Rally will be held on November 3rd in the commuter parking lot next to the Bridge Communities office. Bridge Communities is located at 505 Crescent Blvd, Glen Ellyn 60137. We are located in downtown Glen Ellyn just west of Main Street. Outside: …
Can You Imagine Quitting School at 15 - Oct 19, 2007
Can you imagine quitting school at 15 and not knowing what your future holds? It seemed like that was Kevin’s only path at the time, to quit school. He was failing in most of his classes and things weren’t any better at home. His mom was raising him and his two brothers. She was having problems paying the bills and they were losing their home. With all the instability in the house, it wasn’t …
Homelessness: What You Can Do: Activities for the entire family - Oct 11, 2007
Most Americans underestimate how the problem of homelessness affects families. About 600,000 families and 1.35 million children experience homelessness in the United States. Family homelessness is more widespread than many think, but it is not an unsolvable problem. Across the country, hundreds of communities are planning to end homelessness, and a handful of communities and many local programs …
Where do you go if you don’t have a Home? - Oct 11, 2007
Where do you go if you don’t have a home? Most people probably never have to ask themselves that question. But, sometimes a few poor choices start adding up and then the bottom falls out. That’s what happened to Carrie when she realized the man she married was not a good choice and was making her life miserable. When rent money ran out, she figured she could lean on a few friends and stay at …
Tips to guarantee fund-raising success: - Oct 5, 2007
- Promote your financial goal in your solicitations. If people know you are shooting for a stretch goal, they are more likely to help you with a stretch gift. - Make a list of everyone you know. Think big and then, if you want, start to cut it down. But remember, you will be surprised at who will give if you only ask! - Ask for persons to make a donation to your efforts in lieu of a holiday or …
Can one Person Really Make a Difference for the Homeless? - Oct 5, 2007
The average age of a homeless person in DuPage County is eight. Of the 45,000 DuPage County residents living in poverty, 30% are under age five. While these facts are startling, there is good news: for just $25, you can provide a shelter night for a homeless child at Bridge Communities. Here’s a true story to help explain: Bridge Communities began in 1988. It started out with a dad whose kids …
How Do Families Become Homeless? - Sep 27, 2007
How does it happen? How does a family who is living in a home become a family without a place to live? Believe it or not, Bridge Communities receives approximately 880 phone calls each year from families in such a crisis. Meet Justyn, now 18 and his brother Jordyn, 16. About ten years ago, their mom, Belinda, quit her job to take care of her parents and several members of her extended family who …
Top 10 Reasons to Sleep Out Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 - Sep 27, 2007
Just like David Letterman, we’ve created the Top 10 Reasons for Sleeping Out on Saturday, November 3, 2007: 10. It’s the best excuse you will ever have for a slumber party outside! 9. You and your friends can find ways to stay warm and cozy on a November night while getting a “taste” of what it means to be homeless. 8. You get to check out Matt Wilhelm, the very cool 3-time BMX bike …