Sleeping Bags for Homeless
We started this campaign because of what I saw on December 8, 2016 about 10:30 p.m., after attending the opening night of "White Christmas" at the Ordway in downtown St. Paul. My friend Hayley dropped me off at my car, which was parked by the Juvenile and Family Justice Center.
It was freezing out!! 20 degrees! We were cold! As I was driving away, I saw a mound of a person laying on the ground in the sheltered area next to the sidewalk shown in the picture above. The person was covered with some type of material (blanket? tarp?).
I was just mortified that a person was going to be sleeping on the GROUND on such a frigid night!
That is just wrong!
That person just had to be so miserably cold. I felt so thankful that I was in my warm car and knew how thankful I would be when I walked into my warm home.
I am also thankful for Hayley who listened to me and brainstormed during the drive home when I called her to share my anguish!
So, Hayley and I started cooking something up!
I know we have the Dorothy Day Center not so far away and they provide services to people who are homeless. I am not professing to be an expert on homelessness. I know it is a complex multi-faceted problem. People shouldn't be sleeping outside during a bitterly cold Minnesota winter, but there is not enough room in shelters for everyone who needs a spot inside.
The reality is - people will still be sleeping outside in these freezing temperatures!
As part of our brainstorming last night - Hayley mentioned hand warmers. The next morning I was still thinking about that person on the cold ground and I came up with the idea of "below zero" sleeping bags!
So, we started this campaign to raise money to purchase sleeping bags rated for below zero temperatures, to pass out to homeless people sleeping outside in St. Paul. I found one on Amazon that goes from -22 to -41 for $79.99.
I don't know if it is a perfect idea - but it is an idea that I like and Hayley seems to like. We hope some of our friends will like this idea too. I am going to buy one or two sleeping bags (maybe Hayley will - I didn't ask her yet) and then Hayley and I are going to give them out to people actually sleeping outside at night.
We thought we would share this idea with friends, acquaintances and colleagues to see if anyone else may be interested in helping out during this freezing cold Minnesota winter season.
I created a wish list for the Amazon sleeping bag:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/2CGKNX4Q8RNVS/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2
If you would like to help out, you could either purchase a sleeping bag or make a donation and we will purchase them! Hayley also had the idea of donations of warm scarves, hats, gloves and socks. We are happy to pick up any donations!
We figured we could buy a lot of sleeping bags if we raised as much money as possible which would help a LOT of people be a little warmer outside!
Any donation amount is appreciated and will be put to great use!! I have had someone ask if they could mail a check. Yes. Checks may be mailed to: Diane Dodd, P.O. Box 211351, Eagan, MN 55121,
Here are links to the various news reports on this campaign for more information! Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or comments!
Kare 11:
https://www.google.com/amp/www.kare11.com/amp/news/surviving-the-cold-homeless-children-in-minn/370458670
Channel 5:
http://kstp.com/news/diane-dodd-helping-homeless-cold-sleeping-go-fund-me/4347846/?cat=1
Fox 9
http://www.fox9.com/news/224401906-story
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing in this idea with us!!
Diane and Hayley.
