LEWES, Del.- A sleepover like no other will take place Friday along the Lewes Canal.
Fifteen children from the youth groups of Lewes Bethel United Methodist Church and Lewes Presbyterian Church along with chaperones will sleep outside, something that hundreds of people in our immediate area do each and every night.
First Promise of Southern Delaware is hosting the event. Organizer Kathy Dreasen says there are children in local school districts that are among the homeless in Sussex County.
"Last year there were 100 students in the Cape Henlopen School District who were homeless," Dreasen said. "So I mean this issue is here and it is expected this year to go to 150."
This first time collaboration on this event between Family Promise of Southern Delaware and Overfalls Foundation is planning a fun experience for the children participating.
Elaine Simmerman has her hands in both organizations and says there will be some interactive nighttime activities.
"Kids will tour the ship," Simmerman said. "They will be able to have an astronomer help them look at the skies through a telescope. They’ll be learning about signal flags."
Director of Youth and Family Ministries at Bethel United Methodist Ray Davis says even though the event will be a fun night out for his group, they need to understand how this may impact their peers.
"We’re going to raise awareness to families who are struggling with homelessness in our community and otherwise I don't think our students would even know there’s students in their classroom that don’t have a home to go to at night," Davis said.
Both churches are raising money that will go directly to Family Promise and the organization’s efforts to pay a social worker. The organization says they need $50,000 for part-time or $100,000 for full time.
To make a donation, visit https://www.familypromisesouthernde.org/donate.
