Chatham High School Seniors Sleep Out to End Youth Homelessness

From left Chatham High School seniors: TJ Mackessy, Tommy Sennett, Aidan Johnson, Kaye Stevenson, Matt Lonergan, and Max Williams and Kyle Hollerith participated in the Covenant House Sleep Out to End Youth Homelessness event.

By Jackie Schatell

Chatham High School senior, Kyle Hollerith, and six of his friends: TJ Mackessy, Tommy Sennett, Aidan Johnson, Kaye Stevenson, Matt Lonergan, and Max Williams, recently participated in the Covenant House Sleep Out to End Youth Homelessness event for the second time in two years, where they slept in their cars to raise money for children facing homelessness.

First, they remotely attended an event where people at Covenant House told stories of what they went through, and they then slept in their cars in Kyle’s driveway. In the morning, they talked about how they felt, how it went, and what they learned. They raised over $2,000.

Kyle said it was cold sleeping in his car and that he couldn’t go inside. “I can’t imagine doing this every day,” said Kyle. “I have so much empathy for people who are suffering from homelessness.”

He added, “It was a really great event. It really opened my eyes. Everyone should experience this event, especially people who are my age who are fortunate enough to live the way we do with our own homes.”

Kyle said his team of seven 17- and 18-year-olds is excited to do it again.

According to the website, “Covenant House builds a bridge to hope for young people facing homelessness and survivors of trafficking through unconditional love, absolute respect, and relentless support. Their doors are open 24/7 in 31 cities across six countries and their high-quality programs are designed to empower young people to rise and overcome adversity, today and in the future. Thanks to donations from people like Kyle, 2,020 kids on average are sheltered nightly; 9,200 youths are cared for in the Covenant House residential programs; nearly 50,000 kids have been reached in the past year, 4,000 youths have been helped with finding stable housing; 1,600 youths have been helped find employment; and youths have received 720,000 nights of shelter.” “This year, 4.2 million kids will be homeless in America,” according to Covenant House. People can “fight these numbers by joining or starting a Sleep Out today where they’ll raise lifesaving funds to give kids safe shelter and opportunity and unite the community against youth homelessness.”

The Sleep Out “isn’t about pretending to be homeless,” Covenant House says on the website, “we Sleep Out so homeless kids don’t have to. When you Sleep Out, you’re not just raising funds and awareness – you’re showing these young people your commitment to their future.”

“Whether you join an existing Sleep Out or creating one of your own with friends and family, colleagues, or church, you’re shining a light on the injustice of youth homelessness and inspiring entire communities to step up and protect kids,” says the Covenant House website.

To start your own Sleep Out or to find an existing one to participate in, go to covenanthouse.org.