‘Night Without A Bed’ Fundraiser Aims To Combat Homelessness

RED BANK, NJ — Family Promise of Monmouth County, a program of Lunch Break, is set to host their annual “Night Without a Bed” fundraiser this spring.

Set to begin at 6 p.m. on March 28 and run until 7 a.m. on March 29, the fundraiser invites participants to experience sleeping in a box at the Fort Athletic Club to raise funds for programs supporting homeless families.

By constructing makeshift cardboard homes that replicate homelessness conditions in a safe environment, individuals will engage in a unique opportunity to learn, hear inspiring stories and advocate for a future where everyone has a safe place to sleep, officials said.

Participants will also be invited to create a $150+ digital fundraising campaign for the event.

"This initiative goes beyond awareness. It’s about taking meaningful action," said Gwendolyn Love, the executive director of Lunch Break. "Night Without a Bed challenges our community to not only understand the reality of homelessness but to become part of the solution through direct support and advocacy."

Jessica Stepanski and Gillian Sahadi, event chairs, echoed Love’s sentiment.

“We have created a unique event for our local youth to practice empathy and compassion for families in our community,” Stephanski and Sahadi said. “Working with Lunch Break, this event shines a light on homelessness in our community. It will take a village to break the stigma surrounding homelessness; this is our first step. ”

Statistics have shown a 24% increase in New Jersey’s homeless population in 2024, with 30% of those people being homeless for over one year, officials said.

In response to this issue, Family Promise is encouraging community members to participate in the event in order to secure essential funds for programs supporting homeless families in need.

“My experience last year with Night Without a Bed was truly inspiring and rewarding,” said Sophie Yockel, a senior at High Tech High School and co-chair of the Night Without A Bed Youth Committee. “Being able to meet and help fundraise for the homeless within Monmouth County was an incredible experience and really helped to open my eyes to what was going on within our community.”

With the committee’s team of high school students, Yockel said they were able to fundraise $77,000 for Family Promise during last year’s event.

“Through the committee, we interacted directly with many of the people we were helping, and it really put the work I was doing into perspective,” Griffin Izzo, a senior at RFH and co-chair of the Night Without A Bed Youth Committee, said of last year’s event.

"I was able to see exactly how the money we raised was helping out so many that struggle with homelessness in our area,” Izzo continued. “We’ve been preparing really hard for this year's event, and I’m excited to see how much money we raise; the committee has big goals and expectations for 2025.”

For those interested in participating in the event, you can click here or email Gillian Sahadi at nwbevent@lunchbreak.org for more information.

Community sponsorships are open and encouraged. Interested businesses and organizations can email Caitlin McGarry at cmcgarry@lunchbreak.org or call 732-747-8577 ext. 3106.

The Fort Athletic Club is located at 114 Saltzman Avenue, Oceanport.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to clarify that Family Promise of Monmouth County is a program of Lunch Break.