Wheeling Rotary Club Learns About YSS Wheeling Sleep Out
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WHEELING -- Wheeling Rotary Club members learned about the upcoming Wheeling Sleep Out, a fundraiser for Youth Services System’s transitional living program for homeless youth ages 16-24.
Laura Wodarcyk, case manager for the program, said the Wheeling Sleep Out is slated from 7-10 p.m. Nov. 6 on Market Street Plaza in downtown Wheeling.
“For the past 15 years, employees, businesses and members of our community have been raising money and building boxes to support homeless youth,” she said. “This fundraiser provides young people in our community, as well as those who come to our transitional living program from other parts of the state, with opportunities to grow, learn and become successful young adults.”
This year’s theme is “Game Night.”
“Different businesses, employees and members of the community can create a team to build a box or sponsor a team to build one for them,” she said. “These boxes represent some of the environments and challenges that homeless youth may have experienced or may have had to endure while living on the streets. It’s a way to get creative while also bringing awareness to the struggles that young people face when they don’t have a safe or stable place to call home.”
Wodarcyk said this year’s fundraising goal is $50,000 and about 25% of that has been raised to date.
The end of the fundraising period is the Wheeling Sleep Out gathering, during which there is a contest to judge which box best fit the theme.
“There will be food, activities, and lots of fun things to do,” she said. “You can check out all the amazing boxes that creative people in our community have designed and see the young adults in our program enjoying the festivities.
“We may make this event fun, but the underlying message is support: youth homelessness is still an issue in our community, and these young people need our support. Without our help, without our support, the number of homeless youth will continue to rise.”
The Wheeling Rotary Club is always looking for new members. The club typically meets at noon Tuesdays at WesBanco Arena in the lower-level club room. Tuesday’s featured speaker is scheduled to be Steve Spence, president of the World Affairs Council of West Virginia.
For more information, one can attend a meeting, visit rotarywheeling.org, visit the “Rotary Club of Wheeling, West Virginia” Facebook page or call 304-280-6212. A Discover Rotary event for people interested in learning more about the group is slated to be held 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday at Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center’s Community Room in Wheeling.