11-5 DuPage County: Hundreds to Sleep Out to Help Homeless Families: Rally at 7PM at College of DuPage

Event Supports: Bridge Communities, DuPage County's largest provider of shelter nights for homeless families as well as Bridge Communities' church partners who mentor and support families Participants: 59 groups (up from 18 in 2004) as well as individuals and families Where Sleepers will Spend the Night: in parks, church lawns, in cars and in yards Goal: Raise $100,000 and raise awareness about the need to help the homeless by experiencing what it's like to be homeless for one night.

Glen Ellyn, Illinois (PRWEB) November 1, 2005 -- On November 5, over 13,00 people in DuPage County will sleep out in 58 designated Sleep Out Saturday locations. Sponsored by Bridge Communities, Sleep Out Saturday has grown from 18 locations in 2004 – its first year. The public is invited to attend a DuPage county-wide rally at COD to kick off the event.

The rally program begins at 7:00PM in Parking Lot M (on the west side of Lambert between Butterfield and Fawell) on Saturday night, November 5 and features speakers, a video, a live drama and music from Hook, Line and Sinker Band as well as the renowned Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus. A press conference at 6:15PM will feature Bridge Communities founders, a client and Sleep Out Saturday participants. Illinois State Representative Roger Jenisch will also speak.

When they wake up on November 6, groups, families and individuals will have experienced what it’s like to be homeless. And, they will have raised funds for Bridge Communities, DuPage County’s largest provider of shelter nights for homeless families. With a goal to raise $100,000, Bridge Communities will have additional funds to expand their programs to help homeless families transition to an independent, self-sufficient life.

In 2004, Bridge Communities provided 62,000 shelter nights to homeless families in DuPage County; 60% of Bridge Communities’ clients are children.

Over 50,000 families in DuPage County qualify as working poor; nearly 40 percent of DuPage County’s homeless are children. The DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform reports that the number of people using homeless prevention services in DuPage County rose from 22,266 in 2001 to 47,868 in 2005. The rise correlates with the number of people living below the poverty line in DuPage County, which increased from 32,163 in 2000 to 49,827 in 2003.

Bridge Communities offers hope, independence and a permanent break in the poverty cycle. Over the past year, Bridge Communities served 90 families comprised of 90 adults and 156 children, provided shelter in 68 apartments, and worked with 38 program partners. Bridge Communities grew 30 percent over the past two years; 94% of the Bridge Communities’ budget goes to direct programming and housing support. For more information, visit www.bridgecommunities.org or call Jennifer Jerzyk at 630.545.0610, extension 12.

58 Official Sleep Out Saturday Locations on November 5 (up from 18 in 2004)

***Recommended Media Interview Sites

AURORA

Our Lady of Mercy Parish

BARTLETT

Resurrection Parish

BLOOMINGDALE

***St. Isidore Parish 427 W. Army Trail Road

Roger Jenisch, Illinois State Representative will sleep out here

BOLINGBROOK

St. Dominic’s Parish

CAROL STREAM

Corpus Christi Parish

St. Andrew United Methodist Church

St. Luke Parish

CLARENDON HILLS

Notre Dame Parish Clarendon Hills

DOWNERS GROVE

***Three churches – First United Methodist, First Presbyterian and First Congregational -- are all sleeping out together (more than 100 people!) in Fishel Park in Downers Grove

Downers Grove North High School

First Congregational Church

First Presbyterian Church

First United Methodist Church

ELMHURST

Elmhurst College

York High School

GLEN ELLYN

College of DuPage student clubs

***Faith Lutheran Church

41 N. Park

***First Church, a United Methodist congregation

424 Forest at Duane

First Congregational Church

***First Presbyterian Church

500 Anthony Street

Glenbard West High School

Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus

Harris, Glen Ellyn branch

Laidlaw Education Services (bus transportation)

Lake Ellyn – several groups

Southminster Presbyterian Church

St. James Parish

St. Mark's Episcopal Church

St. Petronille Parish

St. Thomas United Methodist Church

HINSDALE

***Hinsdale United Methodist Church

945 S. Garfield

***Union Church of Hinsdale

137 S. Garfield

ITASCA

St. Peter the Apostle Parish

LISLE

St. Joan of Arc Parish

NAPERVILLE

Families Helping Families

First Congregational UCC

Naperville North High School Key Club

North Central College Cardinals in Action

***Our Saviour's Lutheran

Celebration Campus

919 South Washington Street

Press Contact: Beth Wojahn, 630.995.5892

St. John’s UCC

Sts. Peter and Paul Parish

***St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

1500 Brookdale Rd.

NEW LENOX

St. Jude Parish

ROSELLE

St. Walter’s

WARRENVILLE

St. Irene’s Parish

WAYNE

Little Home Church by the Wayside

Resurrection Parish

WESTMONT

Laidlaw Education Services (bus transportation)

WHEATON

First Presbyterian Church

Gary Memorial United Methodist Church

Koenig & Strey REALTORS

St. Daniel the Prophet Parish

St. Matthew UCC

St. Paul Lutheran

Wheaton College Christian Outreach

Willow Creek Student Impact

WINFIELD

St. John the Baptist Parish    

WOOD DALE

Holy Ghost Catholic Church

WOODRIDGE

St. Elizabeth Seton Parish

St. Scholastica Parish

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