Despite the snow and cold, about 90 business and community leaders in Burlington slept outside on Thursday night. It’s part of the an effort to raise awareness of youth homelessness in Vermont.
The event, now in its third year, is called the Spectrum Sleep Out. It was organized by Spectrum Youth & Family services, a group that supports homeless teens and young adults in the state.
Those who braved the cold were sponsored by donors in order to raise money for the organization. Among the participants was Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger.
"It gives you a little window. A little tiny window of what it's like to actually be out there in the cold." -Mark Redmond, Spectrum Youth & Family Services
At the heart of the movement is Spectrum executive director Mark Redmond. He says sleeping outside can give donors perspective on the issue.
“It gives you a little window. A little tiny window of what it’s like to actually be out there in the cold,” said Redmond.
And this weekend another group will be sleeping out.
“We’ve got about 100 kids, which is new,” said Redmond. “Last year it was one little girl in Westford, 9 years old, who did it, and gave us the idea.”
Organizers said the event is expected to raise around $200,000 in total.
