The New Jersey Devils will be holding a “Sleep Out” at Prudential Center’s Championship Plaza after the game on March 24 versus Tampa Bay. This event will help raise funds for Covenant House New Jersey, a charity that benefits homeless youth.
You help by either joining in on the Sleep Out and participating directly, or by donating money directly to the goal of $250,000. Participation (more specifically a donation of $50 or more) gets you a voucher for tickets to the Devils’ March 27th game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Devils alumni and employees will be participating as well as fans. The Devils’ website (NewJerseyDevils.com/Sleepout) has a frequently asked question section that says that the safety of all involved is taken into account. According to the FAQ, “indoor space remains available throughout the night.”
The money raised goes to Covenant House New Jersey a charity that operates shelters for kids in need. The donordrive.com site for the event says that you will “spend an evening getting to know some of the young people whose lives will be better because of your efforts on their behalf – and spend the rest of the night sleeping on the street in their place.”
Covenant House not only provides shelter for homeless youth, it also provides “wrap-around services, including education and job training, so they can move forward to an adulthood free of poverty and the threat of homelessness.”
Once you sign up, the Covenant House is asking that you work towards a $1,000 fundraising goal. Everyone is encouraged to attend, adults 23 and older can participate alone (and friends and family can attend as long as they register in advance), children 13 and older must be accompanied by an adult.
The FAQ asks that you “approach the event with an open heart, an open mind, and a willingness to work hard for something outside of your comfort zone.”
The FAQ also mentions that you wear weather-appropriate clothing, bring personal toiletries and medications and your smartphone. They will provide you with a new sleeping bag or you can bring your own. They ask that you do not bring luxury bedding items like pillows, as this is an event “to sleep rough for one night in solidarity with homeless kids.” They also do not recommend that you bring any valuable items (aside from your smartphone) and that you do not bring alcohol, as this is a dry event.
You can register at newjerseydevils.com/sleepout or contact tdipietro@covenanthouse.org or call 973-286-3425 for more information.