WESTBOROUGH – A handful of volunteers will spend the day and night of Saturday, March 2, raising awareness about homelessness.
The annual Night in the Cold will take place at Colonial Plaza, 45 E. Main St. (near Dunkin’ Donuts). Four volunteers will spend the day outside in the parking lot soliciting donations and spreading awareness, and then they will sleep outside overnight to bring attention to the plight of people experiencing homelessness.
This year, the focus will be on youth homelessness throughout the state. The beneficiary of this year’s event is Horizons for Homeless Children.
“After working for three years to help people currently experiencing homelessness, I felt that it was time to start focusing on the preventative measures that not only help to alleviate the trauma children currently face in homeless shelters, but also give them the best opportunity to avoid homelessness in their adult life,” said John Bogaert, the founder and event coordinator for a Night in the Cold.
Bogaert said he recently visited the Horizons facility in Boston.
“It is very difficult to comprehend all that a child endures, along with everything they miss out on while being raised in a homeless shelter,” he said.
“John’s work to bring awareness to the homelessness issue is valuable, and we’re grateful he’s chosen to focus on family homelessness this year by supporting Horizons for Homeless Children,” said Chief of Advancement and Strategic Partnerships Tara Spalding. “Families are unique because they typically live in shelters, spaces which are not conducive to the optimal development of young children. Proceeds from this fundraiser will support Horizons’ work to mitigate the negative effects of homelessness across Massachusetts.”
Scott Henderson will again join Bogaert in raising funds and sleeping outside.
“For me, and I think for most parents, your children become the biggest love, focus and concern of your life, and even their minor pains and hurdles bring you heartache,” he said. “It’s just unimaginable to think of other parents’ children experiencing homelessness, and the heartache it must cause them, on top of the families’ real, tangible, daily struggles brought by the homelessness itself.
“This annual sleepout is an important reminder for me of how fortunate I have been, and how many people have not been nearly so fortunate,” he added.
Maggie Hanlon, president of Westborough Helps the Homeless Club at Westborough High School, will be joining the event.
“It’s awful to know that a child has to grow up in an environment that lacks many of the necessities we take for granted,” she said. “Westborough Helps the Homeless is excited to be involved with a Night in the Cold event this year because childhood homelessness is something we have not focused on in the past but is a major issue in America.”
To donate, visit www.donate2homeless.org.
For information on Horizons for Homeless Children, visit https://horizonschildren.org/.
