‘Night Without A Bed’ Event Raises $125,000 To Support Local Families

RED BANK, NJ — Lunch Break’s ‘Night Without A Bed’ event has raised $125,000 for its Family Promise Program, officials said, going toward support for local families in need.

The annual event and youth fund/awareness-raising initiative was hosted at the Fort Athletic Club on March 27 and 28, officials said, and over 100 participants engaged in peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns to support the event.

Many decorated cardboard boxes as symbolic shelters, while some spent the night in them to experience firsthand the challenges faced by those without stable housing.

“We started two years ago across the street in the small Family Promise building, with only about 30 participants,” said Griffin Izzo, the Youth Committee co-chair. “And while it was small, we knew that the goal that we were trying to raise money for was a great cause... now it's great to finally be here in a massive gym with over 100 of you!”

The impact of the program's fundraising achievement was underscored by Memone Crystian, the director of Lunch Break Family Promise, who shared the real-life implications of the funds raised.

“Let me tell you what $125,000 will do for people in our community. This is real, tangible money that changes people's lives,” Crystian said. “We help families who are experiencing homelessness, and when people think of being homeless, sometimes they think of a bum on the street, or somebody that you might walk past and not pay attention to. But the reality is that's not what homeless is.”

“Homelessness affects your neighbors, your friends, people who go to work every day and, through no fault of their own, have experienced some sort of crisis that has changed their lives,” Crystian continued. “And so when we get phone calls at Family Promise, someone says to us, ‘I'm sleeping in my car. Can you help me? I have children, and we have no place to go.’ Those are the people who we are able to help with these sorts of donations.”

During the ‘Night Without a Bed’ event, one participant even shared her experience of losing her home in a fire with attendees, and spoke about finding hope through Family Promise.

She expressed her gratitude for the program, and said they’ve treated her “like family.”

“They have treated me like family since day one," she said. "Welcomed me with open doors and gave me anything I needed."

The success of the event wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of community organizers and Lunch Break Board of Trustee members Gillian Sahadi and Jessica Stepanski, officials said, who devoted “countless hours and tireless efforts to make this event a reality.”

“Their commitment and passion played a crucial role in ensuring its [the event’s] success and furthering the mission of Family Promise,” officials said.

With the success of this year’s event, officials said organizers and supporters are already looking forward to continuing the momentum, expanding their efforts, and making an even greater impact in the future.

To learn more about Family Promise or how to contribute, you can visit their website or contact Memone Crystian at mcrystian@lunchbreak.org.

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• ‘Night Without A Bed’ Fundraiser Aims To Combat Homelessness