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w w w .insidehalton.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, June 2 9 , 2 0 1 7 | 8 Sleep in your car Sept. 23 to help the homeless by N a th a n H o w es Oakville Beaver Staff For one night in September, people are being asked to sleep in a car, so families in need can sleep well in homes they can call their own. On Saturday, September 23, people can take part in Home Suite Hope' s (HSH) Sleep in Your Car event for 24 hours to support those without a home. One hundred car owners will sleep in their vehicles for one night in Oakville, with the goal of each participating automobile raising $1,000 to meet HSH' s $100,000 fundraising target. Oakville-based HSH provides long-term housing and wrap-around social services for single-parent families facing homelessness in Halton. HSH, Genworth Canada, Oakville Infiniti and other event partners launched Sleep in Your Car for Hope June 23 at the Peter Gilgan YMCA of Oakville, where it will be hosted in September. It kicked off a campaign to raise awareness for single-parent families facing homelessness. Proceeds raised will go towards housing, education, support and training for the community' s most vulnerable families. Michelle Pommells, HSH president and CEO, called the event an educational opportunity to build awareness of local residents struggling financially and living in On Saturday, Sept. 23, people are being encouraged to take part in Home Suite Hope's (HSH) Sleep in Your Car for Hope event for 24 hours to support those without a home. One hundred car owners will sleep in their vehicles for one night in Oakville, with the goal of each participating automobile raising $1,000 or more to meet HSH's $100,000 fundraising target. | Nathan Howes/Metroland "desperate circumstances." "Homelessness and poverty exist within Halton, but it' s more than that. It not only exists, we can actually do something about it. Our organization gives people a helping hand to break free from poverty," said Pommells. "We get their lives back on track to create a better future for them and their children." While she called HSH' s $100,000 target a "bold goal," Pommells said it is doable because Halton is an affluent and "very caring community" "We really believe when people understand there are people who really need a helping hand and need this kind of support, they will rally. "If you can' t participate in the event, then sponsor someone else. If you can' t sponsor somebody, perhaps you can volunteer. There a number of ways people can get involved." The campaign began in November 2016 with former HSH board chair Peter Kolisnyk, who slept in a car, donated by Oakville Infiniti, for seven nights, raising more than $20,000 to aid families who are homeless. The idea for Sleep In Your Car came about in an "interesting way," Pommells said, after speaking with students at Queen' s University in 2015 to find "fresh ideas" for a fundraiser. "I loved the idea as soon as I heard about it," said Pommells. "We thought we would run the idea in 2016, but w e realized w e needed a little more time to pull it together. As a result, w e introduced the teaser campaign in November 2016." She said Kolisnyk' s experience was "harder than he thought" as he got a glimpse of what living situations are like for many families. "Sleeping without a home for families with children can only be a nightmarish scenario," said Pommells. Debbie McPherson, senior vice-president of sales & marketing at Genworth Canada, said the prevalent poverty in Halton has made the company aware of the "need for the community to come together and support these individuals." She noted the organization' s goal is to raise $5,000 for the event. "If we can take one night out of our life and really dedicate it to supporting these women, w e're jumping on board," said McPherson. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Peter Gilgan YMCA of Oakville, 410 Rebecca St. It runs from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. To register, make a donation or for more information, visit www.sleepinyourcar.com or call 905-339-2370. # BURUNGTON + Featuring s i9 N 0 r e g T s w t Io n f e e s Oh My Gauze Southern Fashions 1 0 0 % Cotton COM FORTABLE, E X C L U S iV E STYLES J U S T FOR Y O u 1 l E f f * r.OME * 0* * INVENTORY SUPER SALE! ALL GUITARS & AMPS!! SxpilT tQ D w 'w band WoTdCIwj Repair G u it a r w o i u i ) 905.257.3110 · theguitarworldoakville.com 380 Dundas St. E. at Trafalgar Road in Longo's Plaza Marilu's Plaza · www.jusbgauze.com