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 http://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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