Gabe Tena
Gabe's Page for Reggie's Sleepout
Fundraising for Youth And Shelter Services Inc
Story
As a former classroom teacher of 7 years in the states of Arizona and Iowa, I worked with 8, 9, and 10-year-old students who faced homelessness. They were couch surfing from family member to family member. They stayed multiple days throughout the week with their friends. They had a backpack bursting at the seams even though I didn't assign homework. These students received weekend food bags and asked other kids if they would be willing to give away their bag because of their situation. The kids didn't choose this life. It was the life that was given to them.
When I think about Reggie's Sleepout and the work I do as a Community Engagement Coordinator, I think about my former students. The oldest kids from my 1st year teaching in Guadalupe, Arizona are seniors this year. That means that they would fit perfectly into the demographic that Iowa Homeless Youth Centers, a YSS organization, serves in Des Moines (18–24-year-old young adults). It breaks my heart that my former students could potentially walk through our doors and need services.
So please spread the word to your friends, family, colleagues and peers. You spreading the word plays a huge role in the success of this event!
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Reggie’s Sleepout is one of the most well-known community events in Central Iowa. What began as a fundraiser for Iowa Homeless Youth Centers, Reggie’s Sleepout also raises awareness for the hundreds of homeless youth living in Central Iowa today.
October 19, 2024 marks the 19th Annual Reggie’s Sleepout. Since we began in 2006, Reggie’s Sleepout has raised over $2 million for Iowa Homeless Youth Centers. Every dollar that is raised goes directly toward programs that assist homeless youth in achieving independence and self-sufficiency.
This fall, hundreds will again sleep out, on the field at Drake Stadium, in boxes, tents, and sleeping bags. While one night can never completely replicate what it must feel like to be homeless, Reggie’s Sleepout provides some insight into the lives of people who don’t have a place to call home.
