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First National Digital Sleep Out Day aims to help homeless youth amid quarantine

First National Digital Sleep Out Day challenges you to sleep "out" to help homeless youth
Posted at 5:41 AM, Apr 24, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-24 06:58:27-04

During this quarantine we're all being told to "stay home."

However, what about those who don't have a home?

Friday evening the first National Digital Sleep Out America Day, is aiming to help those people.

The event is being put on by Covenant House which shelters and supports young people facing homelessness, and tracking.

Covenant House has sites in Grand Rapids, and Detroit, and their challenge is for people to sleep "out," whether that's in your backyard, or even your living room.

The whole idea is to get outside of your comfort zone, and to raise money to support homeless youth.

The even starts at 8 p.m. Friday, and it's the first time they've had one of these sleep outs "virtually."

What that means is that while you're doing your sleep out you can join together online with other families taking part, you can do this on the Sleep Out America website.

There will be games, and activities to learn more about homeless youth, and how fortunate families with homes are.

Steven Depolo, director of development at Covenant House Michigan in Grand Rapids says, "There's going to be educational activities that are age appropriate, so everyone can gain a little empathy and understanding of what it's like to live on the streets, or live in an adult shelter, and put yourself at higher risk of getting COVID-19."

"We're not pretending to be homeless, but we're getting out of our comfort zone in sympathy with the youth that were caring for," explains Depolo.

Sleep Out America is asking for a $25 donation to take part in Fridays Sleep Out.

The organization's Michigan campuses are currently caring for 65 homeless youths during the COVID-19 crisis.