Can you Spare some "change"

Bret Callentine · Post by **Bret Callentine** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:52 am

Hopefully you have seen the posting in the Observer, but if not, this Saturday will be the fifth year for the Homeless Awareness Sleepout in Lakewood.

Local teens will be sleeping out in the snow and cold to raise awareness and collect donations for the Cleveland area homeless.

If you can, please take a moment to go through your closets, pantry or just a change drawer to see if you can't find a few things to donate.

We're looking for blankets, clothing, shoes, unopened toiletries, canned goods, and even things like useable pots and pans. It's not just about feeding the homeless, it's about providing the kind of items that can help them turn their life around. A focus for the shelter this year is collecting clothes that men and women could use for job interviews.

If you have something that can be used, I promise you, we can get it into the hands of someone who needs it. Even just a handfull of change can make a difference.

Please drive by either Lakewood Congregational Church (corner of Detroit and West Clifton) or Pilgrim St. Paul Lutheran Church (corner of Detroit and Manor Park) and the kids will take the donations curbside. You won't even have to leave your nice warm car.

I hope to see you Saturday night or Sunday morning.

thanks

Heidi Hilty · Post by **Heidi Hilty** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:59 am

Hi Bret,
If someone wanted to make a donation via check, to whom should it be made payable? Thanks for helping spearhead this project; I feel like you've been doing this for 4 or 5 years now. Just another example of the great make-up of our community.
Heidi

Bret Callentine · Post by **Bret Callentine** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:26 pm

Heidi,

the easiest way would be to just make the check out to whichever church you plan on dropping off the donation to.

I don't know about Lakewood Congregational, but most of the money we collect at Pilgrim St. Paul will be used to purchase items for the Homeless Stand-downs put on by the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless.

hope to see you Saturday.

Bret Callentine · Post by **Bret Callentine** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:00 am

well, yesterday's temperatures would have been nice to have, but I guess if the homeless don't get a thermostat, then we don't either.

If you can swing by with donations, Lakewood Congregational Church will be outside starting at around 6:00pm. I will be with the kids at Pilgrim St. Paul Lutheran, and we will be outside starting at about 3:00pm today.

Hope to see you there.

Justine Cooper · Post by **Justine Cooper** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 1:13 pm

Wow you are brave and wonderful for doing this as are the kids. I hope the LO gets a photographer out there to take pictures of what Lakewood teens are really doing! I will pack up what I can. Do you guys need any of those hot packs that warm up?

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:03 pm

I'd like to thank the adults and kids braving the cold tonight. We were able to clean out our closets for a good cause. And we were able to teach our kids a little about how the homeless live. This is a wonderful service project and I hope you guys were able to raise a lot for the areas homeless. Also I have to say that even with the frigid temps all I saw were super big smiles and that says a lot about you all.

sharon kinsella · Post by **sharon kinsella** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:06 am

Sending warm thoughts.

Heidi Hilty · Post by **Heidi Hilty** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:47 am

When I stopped by Pilgrim last night around 10:30 pm, everyone was bundled up but all smiles. The kids were incredibly thankful for each donation and unfailingly polite - such a credit to our community. Kudos to anyone who is involved with this project.

Nicky Ott · Post by **Nicky Ott** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 2:02 pm

I was part of the first group at Lakewood Congregational that did the sleepout 5 years ago and am so glad that it's still going on and that other churches are involved too. I stopped by last night at LCC and was glad to see so many kids there! It was seriously cold last night but I think that adds to the point of the whole thing!

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 4:05 pm

Bret Callentine right with other adults at the Homeless Awareness Fundraiser.
It is a pleasure knowing you Bret.

.

Stan Austin · Post by **Stan Austin** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 4:39 pm

Brett-- You serve as a role model for your kids and their friends.

I think you are showing us what "compassionate, conservative, Callantineism" is all about.

Stan

Justine Cooper · Post by **Justine Cooper** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:54 pm

Yes way to go Bret! Even though we don't agree on some views, you are a man who stands behind your views and are a real blessing to the youth you inspire.

If we didn't get winter clothing or coats dropped off in time, are you still taking them and where?

Bret Callentine · Post by **Bret Callentine** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:43 pm

thank you, but I don't know that I inspire these kids nearly as much as they inspire me. Nicky is a prime example, without her leadership and dedication this event never would have started in the first place let alone made it to it's 5th year.

Two of the kids this year were actually celebrating their 16th birthday's while at the sleepout. It's hard to imagine a teen answering the question: "what do you want to do for your 16th birthday?" with the response: "sleep outside in sub-zero temperatures, with little food and no entertainment, all to help someone I don't know."

Thanks to the strength and compassion of those kids, as well as the tremendous support of the Lakewood Community (obviously more "neighbor" than "hood"), the kids at Pilgrim Saint Paul Lutheran were able to collect several car loads of donated goods and more than a thousand dollars in cash and change.

These items will now be taken down to places like the NorthPoint shelter, the Shelter at 2100 Lakeside, and to the North East Ohio Coalition for the Homeless.

Justine, and all, if you have anything that you would still like to donate, you can still drop them off at Pilgrim St. Paul Lutheran Church any time this week (or give me a call and I can swing by to pick them up).

Thank you again for your support.

sharon kinsella · Post by **sharon kinsella** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:52 pm

Thanks Bret for all this.

My cousin works at the Lakeside shelter. My daughter works with homeless glbt kids.

This winter is cold and lonely and lots of stomachs are empty.

Thanks kids, this is the real world and you are helping.

Suzie Dean · Post by **Suzie Dean** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:16 pm

Bret,

My daughter Selena participated in this event. Between her many cat naps in her pajamas and robe under her blanket on the couch, she had nothing but fond words to share. This is her first time doing this and she had a lot of fun. Surprisingly she didn't say one word about the cold, just how much fun she had. Thanks for your time and efforts. This is a memory that will stand out in her head for years to come.

Suzie