HOMELESS AID SLEEPOUT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR LOCAL CHARITY
PUBLIC BEING ASKED TO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL SLEEPOUT VOLUNTEERS
DROGHEDA Homeless Aid’s biggest annual fundraiser the Sleep Out has become part and parcel of life in Drogheda in the lead up to Christmas and this year is to be held on Saturday 9th December.
The sponsored Sleep Out will help generate funding of up to €60,000 to help in provision of emergency accommodation and support services for homeless people from both Louth and Meath.
Drogheda Homeless Aid catered for 119 different homeless men during 2016. It is envisaged that by the end of this year a similar number will be catered for in 2017 as the homeless crisis continues unabated. Many of these homeless men have, with the help of the Drogheda Homeless Aid’s resettlement team been re-housed and are now living independently. The funding raised from the Sleep Out goes directly towards the provision of meals, accommodation and advice and support services for the men who have found themselves homeless. Drogheda Homeless Aid has have helped 1,400 men to exit homelessness over the past fifteen years, provides supports to prevent individuals at risk from becoming homeless as well as providing hot meals to those living in poverty in the community (approx. 13,700 meals per annum).
There are a huge variety of people taking part in this year’s fund-raiser ranging from teachers, business owners such as Drogheda Chamber President, Paddy Callaghan to employees working with State Street and also new parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, Fr. Barry Matthews. All participants aim to put homelessness firmly in the local consciousness, raise the profile of the work of Drogheda Homeless Aid as well as helping to reach the funding target of €60,000.
Maureen Ward, Manager. has asked the public to give generously, she stated ‘ This funding from the Sleep Out is vital allowing Drogheda Homeless Aid to continue to do its crucial work at this time of crisis in housing and homelessness. She added,’ the Sleep Out is now in its 17th year and the people of Drogheda have rallied to support them and endorse the services provided by Drogheda Homeless Aid, and year on year the revenue from the sponsored Sleep Out has increased due to their generosity.’