Saint Joseph Regional High School students in Montvale have recently camped out all night outside the school.
As reported, 144 students participated in the campaign to raise awareness of youth homelessness and collect over $60,000 in donations for homeless youth.
The students only had cardboard boxes and sleeping bags to keep them warm on a cold night.
Accordingly, the school's campaign is called the 'Sleep Out Program.'
About 'Sleep Out Program' in Saint Joseph Regional High School
The Saint Joseph Regional High School hosts the Sleep Out Program along with the Covenant House. The program aims to educate students on the issue of homelessness among the youth, according to a report from Jersey Catholic.
Participating learners reportedly faced a terrible reality, showing that nearly 700,000 adolescent minors and 4.2 million young people in the country experience homelessness annually.
As reported, the Sleep Out Program is intentionally held on a school night, according to John Asselta, current director of the performing arts at Saint Joseph Regional and event organizer.
It is reportedly done to give the students "a more genuine experience" and to demonstrate how homelessness affects their health and energy levels.
Asselta said that many of the students who take part find the experience to be life-changing. He said, "It makes them realize how difficult it is for people who have to do it daily."
"And they find out that, by the grace of God, their lives are so different from those of the homeless teens," he added.
The director wants the students who take part to learn to be grateful for what they have, to believe that those given a lot are expected to do a lot and to want to make a difference in the lives of people who have less than they do.
Jack Laux, a junior at Saint Joseph Regional, said that the Sleep Out experience made him realize how lucky he is to have a warm house and a comfortable bed every night.
He is reportedly thrilled that the event happens annually. He has participated in the Sleep Out Program for the past three years.
As further discussed, it was reportedly Asselta who introduced the program to the school to raise funds for the Covenant House.
About Covenant House
The Covenant House is a non-profit group that helps homeless young people find housing and other services.
Moreover, it helps homeless and trafficked young people get back on their feet by giving them a safe place to live, food, clothes, and constant support.
Covenant House's continuum of care helps young people find hope, build resilience, and move closer to their goals in 34 cities and counting in Canada, Latin America, and the United States.
Such care includes education opportunities, health care, job training, legal help, mental health counseling, birthday parties, community gatherings, and movie nights.
The Covenant House is reportedly guided by the idea that every young person deserves to be loved and respected.
Furthermore, the organization conducts the Sleep Out Program that raises money that helps the Covenant House keep its doors open for the thousands of young people who come to them looking for shelter.
The fund raised by Sleep Out is used to pay for the services offered by the organization.
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