On May 1st over 100 mothers from New York and New Jersey will sleep on the streets of Manhattan with a goal of raising $200,000 for the homeless youth at Covenant House.
The Covenant House Mother’s Sleep Out is the latest in a growing movement to raise funds and awareness and to show homeless youth that they are not alone. Previous Covenant House Sleep Outs with executives, young professionals, Broadway stars, and corporations have raised over $14.5 million in the United States and Canada in the last three years.
Jennifer Enslin is looking forward to showing our kids she cares in this unique way. So far she has rallied other moms from the area and raised over $50,000 for the May 1st event.
“I believe strongly in the work Covenant House does, which is to provide shelter, food, medical care, education, and most importantly love to thousands of youth, who would otherwise be living on the streets,” said Jennifer. “Through volunteer work I have had many opportunities to spend time with the young people who call Covenant House their home. I am always impressed by their tenacious drive and unwavering strength. It’s an honor to do my small part to help them.”
This is the second annual Mom’s Sleep Out. This event follows in the path of a successful Young Professional Edition that raised over $450,000 in March.
“There are 2 million homeless kids in the United States in any given year, but they are largely invisible,” said Covenant House President Kevin Ryan. “Homeless teenagers blend in, they couch-surf, they hide in the wide open. They’re running from violence and abuse. Or a parent died. Or poverty crushed their families. Or drug addiction scalded their homes and they have no one left to look out for them.
“The moms participating in this Covenant House Sleep Out are sending a loud and clear message to homeless kids – that we stand with them in their struggles, and celebrate their courage, their resiliency, and their dreams for a better life. What a beautiful message to send as Mother’s Day approaches.”
Covenant House provides 24/7 crisis care and on-going support for homeless young people in need of a safe haven. For more information about the Mother’s Sleep Out go to www.momssleeout.org.
