It was a dangerously cold night to have to sleep outside on Saturday, but some churchgoers in Lakewood chose to do just that.
Worshippers at the Lakewood Congregational Church got out sleeping bags and cardboard boxes and spent Saturday night outdoors as part of the 12th annual Homeless Awareness Sleep Out. It’s all in an effort to raise awareness about Northeast Ohio’s homeless problem.
Earlier in the evening, they took to the streets with cardboard signs asking for donations. They’re trying to raise thousands of dollars for organizations that help homeless people, including Family Promise, Y Haven and the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless.
Many of those who slept outside are children.
“We know, in the morning they’re going to get up and go home and they realize other people don’t have that luxury,” Brad Humphreys said. "So they decided they want to kind of have the kids experience that and also, at the same time, do what they can to help solve the homeless problem we have.”
Last year, Humphreys said they raised nearly $5,000.
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