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Sleep Out For the Homeless
CEDAR RAPIDS--Local residents will spend the night of Saturday, Nov. 14 outside to raise awareness of homelessness as an important and real issue in Linn County, and to raise money for area shelters.
The fourth annual Sleep Out for the Homeless will take place, regardless of weather conditions, at Greene Square Park in downtown Cedar Rapids (on Fifth Street SE between Third and Fourth avenues) between 5 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Sunday.
The public is invited to join participants in either sleeping in cardboard boxes in the park or discussing and sharing information on homelessness at First Presbytertian Church, 310 Fifth St. SE, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Those who choose to sleep outside will be provided with cardboard boxes. On Saturday, the Salvation Army will be on hand to serve hot soup and drinks. Then on Sunday, hot breakfast will be provided to participants. There will also be a contest for the best shelter plus door prizes.
Held as part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, the event is organized by Linn County Veteran Affairs, Community Circle of Care, and volunteers from local organizations. The Community Circle of Care will also use the Sleep Out to kick off its annual blanket drive for the homeless.
The Sleep Out is made possible through the fundraising efforts of participants, who receive pledges from members of the community.
For more information, call Donald Tyne at (319) 892-5160
by Brian Siguenza
Former AmeriCorps VISTA Christine Diehm displays the quilt she made,
which will be up for Silent Auction at the Westdale Mall, and at the 1st Presbyterian Church.
The quilt is a fundrasier to benefit the Sleep Out for the Homeless,
which will take place November 14 at 7 p.m.
The Sleep out will benefit the homeless community in Cedar Rapids.