Campout 2014

Temperatures dipped down into the 20’s Saturday night and more than 2-hundred people slept at AT&T field in card board boxes.
It was all for Family Promise’s Campout 2014 homeless event.

Mary Ellen Galloway, Family Promise Executive Director said, "Everybody here I guarantee right now and from here on, because its so cold, that’s going to drive the point home of what it really means to not have a home."  The Campout 2014 event brought people together to help one another, and to realize the struggles of those who do this every day. Galloway said, "Until we can make a dent in this really significant social problem of family homelessness, we are going to bring about awareness." Representatives with Family Promise, an organization that helps homeless families transition to jobs and housing as quick as they can, says there are families in our area that deal with this every night. Galloway said, "There are families with children that are sleeping in their cars. And they are sleeping outside. And it’s unfortunate, but cars now have actually become houses for people."

Some that participated said they have a new appreciation for what they have. Jessica Hawkins, Campout 2014 Participant said, "It makes me feel like its really hard for them. And how they have to live like this because its hard to live like this for one night, but living like this for a long time, I would imagine it to be really difficult."

Funds received from the event helps put homeless families into housing. Representatives look forward to holding it again next year.