Here’s what you can do to raise awareness and money to combat homelessness for families

Year by year, week by week, and day by day, homelessness is becoming an increasingly widespread problem across the United States. In fact, during the 2019 through 2020 school year, there were an estimated 1,280,886 students who were experiencing homelessness, according to The National Center for Homelessness Education.

Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care, a nationally recognized brand of comprehensive educational childcare programs, will be bringing awareness to this horrific societal issue with a Night Without a Bed campaign—a campaign from the nonprofit organization Family Promise.

Since 1986, Family Promise has been creating programs to help end family homelessness. This organization offers case management and community support, rental assistance and security deposits, utility support, landlord mediation, housing location, transportation—gas cards, bus passes, and car donations—and other ways to keep families out of the shelter. They also organize food pantries, provide furniture donation initiatives, drop-in community centers, clothing closets, diaper banks, holiday gift drives, and so much more.

And of course, another one of this 4-Star Charity Rating organization’s initiatives is their Night Without a Bed Campaign.

“Family homelessness is a pressing issue affecting millions of families across the United States—many families spend their nights without a bed, facing uncertain and unstable living conditions,” Kiddie Academy said in a press release. 

So they’re taking matters into their own hands and partaking in this national social media challenge and fundraising effort.

Kiddie Academy franchised locations and individuals are invited to select a night to sleep somewhere other than their comfortable beds in their home. This can be a tent in their backyard, a sleeping bag in the living room, or any other creative (and safe) sleeping arrangement to promote the corresponding fundraiser. 

Family Promise Chief Development Officer Mike Kerkorian said in the press release, “Night Without a Bed is a powerful event that allows participants to better relate to families experiencing homelessness.” 

“By encouraging communities to spend an evening without a bed, we can help to shine a light on this important issue and inspire people to take action.”

To learn more about the campaign, sign up to spend a night without a bed or make a donation, please visit Kiddie Academy’s fundraising page.