Homeless charity Galway Simon Community has launched its annual Sleep Out for Simon fundraising event which will take place on the night of Friday 30 September.
The event will see people from Galway and beyond give up their bed for one night to raise awareness and vital funds for those facing homelessness in the West.
Galway Simon has set itself a target of raising €100,000 from this year’s event, with 100% of proceeds going directly towards their Homelessness Prevention Services.
The charity has invited the public to get their flasks of tea and hot chocolate at the ready and pack into their warmest sleeping bags, for a jam-packed night on 30 September.
People can join one of the organised community sleep outs taking place across Galway city and county, and they can also organise their own event in a safe place of their choosing.
One participant from last year said it was “a great experience with my family raising money for such a good cause while also getting a greater understanding of homelessness and the fact that it can happen to anyone”.
Karen Golden, CEO of Galway Simon Community, explained why they are relying on the community to come together and raise funds for those living with the threat of homelessness.
“The fear and trauma of having nowhere to sleep is a stark reality for some, the families and individuals who we support continue to be under extreme pressure,” she said.
“We are asking for the help of our community so that we can continue delivering the support needed to protect the most vulnerable in our society from the threat of homelessness.”
Over the last two years the Sleep Outs took place virtually due to Covid-19 and were the most diverse to date.
People took part from across the globe, from Moycullen, Westport, Castlerea, to as far as Shanghai, with participants from Montessori groups to sports clubs to businesses and enterprises of all sizes.
The vital funds raised helped support more than 800 individuals and families across the West.
To register for the Sleep Out for Simon, visit sleepoutforsimon.ie.
