NORTHAMPTON, Mass.—Sunday, October 26, 2014 is the date for the 23rd annual Shelter Sunday to benefit the organizations providing shelter and support services to homeless and hungry populations in Northampton, Florence, and Leeds. In the beginning, the motivating premise was very simple: if every household in Northampton contributed just $1 to helping the homeless, thousands of critical dollars could be raised! Over the years, the participating agencies and volunteers have changed, but one thing remains constant: that simple premise.
In the response to growing shelter wait lists, the Shelter Sunday Coalition’s goal for 2014 is to raise $50,000 to be divided among the Grove Street Inn, Interfaith Emergency Shelter, MANNA Soup Kitchen, Grace House, Safe Passage, and the Single Room Occupancy Project. Over the past decades, these organizations have served thousands of individuals and families through the toughest times of their lives. In addition to volunteers, the Shelter Sunday Coalition is seeking sponsorships from businesses committed to helping the homeless in our community. All businesses that donate $100 or more before September 2, 2014 will be listed in the brochure to be distributed throughout the entire city through the month of September and on Shelter Sunday.
Volunteer: Volunteers are needed to canvass a street or collect donations at a prearranged collection site. Volunteers are welcome to canvass alone or with a group, and can choose the neighborhood in which they wish to go door-to-door. The money raised will help provide the warm place to sleep, the hot meals, the protection for women and children from domestic violence, and the support services to women in recovery and low income individuals in our community. For more information about volunteering or to sign up for a neighborhood or collection site, please call Wendy at (413) 582-9508 or email volunteer@northamptonsheltersunday.org.
Sponsor: In addition to volunteers, the Shelter Sunday Coalition is seeking sponsorships from businesses committed to helping the homeless in our community. All businesses that donate $100 or more before September 2, 2014 will be listed in the brochure to be distributed throughout the entire city through the month of September and on Shelter Sunday. In addition, these businesses will be recognized in front of Memorial Hall in Northampton at the culmination of the event on October 26th. Current sponsors are: Gerry Shattuck, Murphy’s Realtors, Foster Farrar, Coffey & Heady, David and Lisa McCutcheon, Sasson, Turnbull, Ryan & Hoose, Jeffrey Bott Contracting. Current media sponsors are: The Rainbow Times and The Valley Advocate.
Donate: Those who are not able to volunteer this year but who see a person or group in their neighborhood going door-to-door are encouraged to make a donation to this important cause! Each donation—no matter the size—provides positive alternatives and outcomes for the people that are served by these six organizations.
For more information about this year’s event and how to get involved, visit northamptonsheltersunday.org. Please share your support by liking Shelter Sunday on Facebook and following the Northampton Shelter Sunday on Twitter @ShelterSunday. We’ll see you on October 26th!
[From a News Release]
