Where it Began
The Homeless Awareness Project began when young men from the church, Kyle Gardner, Josh Royer & Chris Stapelton, looked around and saw the challenges of the world with a spirit to help make it easier for the less fortunate in the world. In 2011 it began a tradition of young people sleeping on the Green Presidents Day weekend, no matter the weather.
Donations are collected by youth of the church and community. All donation of food, blankets, and money, are given to the Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries located in Waterbury.
Homeless AwarenessÂ
This event is open to High School Youth who are ready to follow our expectations and attend set up meeting.
2026 Homeless Awareness brings us back to our roots by sharing this mission and ministry with the teens of our church and their close friends. Together we collected 2 car loads of food, a car of blankets and coats, and a great cash donation for GWIM. Thank you so much to our community for showing up and providing for the less fortunate of our community and those served by our partner agency GWIM. All of the bagged lunches go to people in need. Thank you for providing and showing God's Love!
In 2025 we were host to 46 high school students from the church and community. The size of this crowd has been humbling as we worked together to collect items for people we will never meet. Thank you all for your support!
In 2024 39 Amazing young people and volunteers completed 24 Hours in negative temperatures to be a part of the Homeless Awareness Project 2024. Together we collected food, money, blankets, and sleeping bags to provide for people in need. Thank you to all of our guest speakers and partners. This years partners are GWIM, NAMI, Knights of Columbus, and our Community. Corporate sponsors helped us make a bigger impact. Thank you for your support!
In 2023 more than 30 young people gathered to further the cause. We collected a record donation for GWIM of over 5,700, a car load of food, bags of blankets, and made more than 250 bagged lunches for the GWIM community.
In 2022 more than 45 young people braved the freezing cold in tents on a windy weekend to make a difference in their community. Together they raised over 5,400, tables of food, and made over 100 bagged lunches for the GWIM.
Want to be a part of next years project? Applications given out in January.
Requirements:
Must be high school age, be ready for the experience of being hungry, cold, but willing to help others.
