Hi friends,

I’m thrilled to be sleeping out in participation of Beacon's 8th Annual Solidarity Sleep Out! This is the second time that my husband, Gerhard, and I will be participating by camping out on 4th Street. Last time, we loved hanging out with other Beacon supporters, meeting new friends, playing games and watching the Sunset and Sunrise over Bloomington downtown. It was super hot then, so we chose not to sleep inside a tent. I have to admit that this made me feel  vunerable dispite the fact that we were surrounded by many friends nearby. But, such experiences and feelings are the purpose of the sleepout - to be in solidarity with other Beacon supporters and with our unsheltered brothers and sisters who experience these conditions and vulnerabilities regularly. Please join us in supporting Beacon financially by contributing to this fundraiser and if you are willing, join us on 4th Street to camp, play a game, watch the sunset or drink a cup of coffee together. 

The Solidarity Sleep Out is an annual fundraiser held to raise critical funds and awareness for Beacon's overnight shelter, Friend's Place. Friend's Place is an incredibly important resource in the Bloomington community for the following reasons:

•  It's Monroe County's largest year-round, emergency shelter for women with more than 3/4ths of its beds filled by women.
• It provides more than 14,000 nights of shelter for over 200 people every year.
• It's a Housing First shelter, whose main priority is giving people the tools they need to get back home as quickly as possible.
• It's an LGBTQ+ affirming shelter - honoring all sexual orientations and gender identities while working with transgender and nonbinary individuals to provide the arrangements that best fit them.
• As a shelter that recognizes people experiencing homelessness come from every belief system, Friend's Place has no tests or pressure to affirm any particular faith tradition.

Here's how you can help:

• Donate: Contribute whatever you can. Every donation—big or small—helps me reach my fundraising goal and directly impacts this important cause. Make a gift through the "donate now" link or see the check mailing instructions below!

  Check mailing instructions:
  With "Solidarity Sleepout" written in the memo, please mail checks to:
  Beacon Inc.
  P.O. Box 451
  Bloomington, IN 47402

• Spread the Word: Share my fundraising page with your friends, family, and social networks. Let’s spread awareness and build compassion together.

Thank you for standing by me in this effort. Your support means the world to me and will make an incredible difference in the lives of struggling individuals and families.