Belvedere College Sleepout highlights plight of homeless

The boys of Belvedere College are to run their annual sleep out and fast on the capital’s streets from December 22nd until Christmas Eve.

The event aims to raise awareness of homelessness and collect money for the Peter McVerry Trust, Focus Ireland and Home Again, all of which provide services to the homeless. The boys will be collecting on all major thoroughfares throughout the city.

Fr McVerry said he very much appreciated the commitment and work of the pupils and past pupils of the college in giving their time and energy to raising funds at Christmas time.

“Sleeping out for 48 hours and experiencing in a small way what it is like to be on the streets, in order to raise much needed funds for homeless services is a valued sign of solidarity and concern by the students, past and present, and will make a significant and welcome contribution,” he said.

The Sleepout has been an annual event for the past 30 years, raising more than €1 million for homeless charities since its inception. More than 70 Belvedere students and more than 40 past pupils will participate.

This year there has been a special emphasis on getting support through social media. The students are asking for shout-outs on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #sleepout14.

The pupils would appreciate donations via their website, sleepoutdublin.ie.