Neptune City Councilman Brian Thomas and Neptune resident AJ Daigle spent the night sleeping out at Memorial Park in Neptune City to support Covenant House.
By DENISE HERSCHEL
It’s become an annual tradition each March for Neptune City Councilman Brian Thomas as he grabbed a couple of zzzs at the borough’s Memorial Park for one night, in an effort to raise awareness of children’s homelessness.
As he along with Neptune residents AJ Daigle and Malachi Matson spent an evening under the stars, in freezing temperatures on a recent Friday night. Their thoughts were not on being uncomfortable or not getting enough sleep but rather the estimated 2.5 million children and youth who experience homelessness annually.
“We have been participating in National Sleep Out for Covenant House for quite a few years, ” Thomas said. “We raise funds specifically for Covenant House New Jersey and their Asbury Park organization. We have a really great team, the Jersey Shore All-Nighters who are made up of family and friends who all want to do something good. AJ and I are co-captains of the Neptune City All-Nighters and we are proud to lead a group of people who care.”
This year’s Sleep Out, which took place on March 14, has a mission which is to raise awareness and funds to help end child homelessness as well as provide at-risk youth with the support they need.
“Covenant House New Jersey offers them shelter, food, and the resources to build a better future. We spend one night outside. This is not to pretend that we know what it is really like, but to show these kids that they are not alone and that people like us care about them,” he said.
Thomas said the Sleep Out gives people “a small glimpse ” into the struggles that young people endure every night.
“This year, participants took part inside Asbury Park’s Convention Hall’s main area. Our team, The Jersey Shore All-Nighters stopped by Convention Hall but we slept at our annual location at Memorial Park,” he said.
Thomas has been involved in the Sleep Out for the last few years and that every time he participates it reinforces how important the cause is to him.
“This hits home for me because I know what it is like to grow up without having a lot. AJ and I were not born into wealth but we had people who supported us along the way. Not every kid gets that. If we can help even a few of them find their way, then we have to step in to help. When young people get the help that they need, it makes the whole community stronger. Seeing the impact Covenant House has on these kids keeps me coming back. I am reminded of the resilience of the young people and how the Covenant House helps and also how important it is to continue advocating for them,” she said.
Covenant House is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit charitable organization whose goal is to provide safe housing and holistic care to youth ages 16-21 experiencing homelessness and services of human trafficking. It was founded by Reverend Bruce Ritter, a Franciscan priest in New York City who began the new ministry which was officially incorporated in 1972.
Thomas said his local team raised $2,700 for the event with the organization from the Asbury Park Convention Hall night Sleep Out raising $120,000. The funds will be distributed throughout the Covenant House NJ nonprofit with a major portion going to the Asbury Park branch.
“When we left from doing the Sleep Out we were already discussing another one we will be doing for next year,” he said. “We always hope to get more people involved from the community to increase donations and awareness for this cause.”
