On Thursday, February 15, eight Vancouver Whitecaps FC staff participated in the second annual Covenant House Vancouver Young Professionals Sleep Out to support homeless youth.
With just a sleeping bag and a piece of cardboard, the ‘Caps staff members each found a piece of pavement on the streets of downtown Vancouver and settled in for a cold, rainy night.
But one night on the street is nothing compared to the daily reality that some youth face.
Together, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Sleep Out team has raised over $20,000 for homeless youth and Covenant House Vancouver, one of the club’s key community partners. All funds raised will directly support Covenant House Vancouver’s mental health and addictions programs for youth.
Covenant House provides shelter, food, clothing and counselling to over 1,400 young people each year. The youth have often fled abusive homes, were abandoned or have aged out of the foster care system with no family, no money and nowhere to go.
Fifty four beds in the Crisis Program shelter homeless, runaway or at-risk youth aged 16-24 and provide them with access to trained staff and volunteers to get them the help that they need.
With 68 participants, the Covenant House Vancouver Young Professionals Sleep Out has raised over $242,000, surpassing the $220,000 goal. Donations continue to come in and can be made online until March 31.
You can support homeless youth and Covenant House Vancouver by making a donation to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Sleep Out team.
Whitecaps FC also supports Covenant House Vancouver through the club’s annual #BuckUp for Mental Health campaign. In 2017, Whitecaps FC fans helped raise over $84,000 to support Covenant House Vancouver’s mental health programs.
This year’s #BuckUp for Mental Health match is set for Saturday, June 9 at 4 p.m. when the ‘Caps host Orlando City SC.
