Operation Homeless Raises
$1,100
It's hard to imagine being a
homeless teenager in northern Minnesota in the winter, but the youth group
from First Lutheran Church in Aitkin knows exactly how it feels.
Since 1998, the First Lutheran
youth group has held "Operation Homeless," an annual event to raise money
for the homeless. This year 17 students were sponsored to stay outside
without tents from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. on December 27-28. Students bring one
food item with them to sustain them over the 12-hour event, and bring
another for the local food shelf. Nearly $1,100 was raised this year
through the sponsorships, which is a significant jump from previous years.
"It always seems to be one of
the coldest nights of the year," said Dan Jones, one of the adult youth
group volunteers, and this year was no exception. "We really just want
them to experience what it might be like, and learn from it."
This year, First Lutheran
decided to give their proceeds to LSS Renaissance House and LSS Street
Outreach programs. First Lutheran found out about Renaissance and Street
Outreach through the ELCA Northeastern Minnesota Synod Senior High Youth
Gathering in Virginia, Minn., where a presentation about the programs was
made.
"When youth groups show
support of Renaissance by creating fundraising events, it contributes much
more than needed dollars to this program," said Lynn Gerlach-Collard,
Renaissance House and Street Outreach program manager. "The youth living
here, as well as the staff who work here, are always touched by the sense
of community we feel when someone outside of this environment shows such
caring. Homelessness is very isolating, and anytime the folks here can
feel some community spirit, the value in that is unseen but very present."
During the evening, the adult
volunteers facilitated discussions about homelessness. Renaissance staff
provided good information to prepare the adults for those discussions. "We
try to give the kids a different perspective on the issue of homelessness
each year, and Renaissance helped us do that very well," said Jones.
