Monthly Mission: November

Mission: Hope for the Hungry and Homeless

November is recognized as National Homeless Awareness Month.  A statewide study on homelessness reported more than 400 men, women, and children sleeping in emergency shelters and on the streets in Albany, GA on a single night in January.  Our monthly mission will be the Hope for the Hungry and Homeless Sleep Out.

We're looking to raise the bar yet again in our continuing efforts to raise money and inspire action for the homeless and food insecure throughout our community and the country.

Although we could never duplicate the real-life experience of what it is like to be truly homeless or to have to sleep in rough conditions - when loneliness, lack of food, poor health and fear of personal safety add to your concerns about when or where you will find a bed or have a change to rebuild your life - sleeping out for the night can focus all our thoughts on the hunger and homelessness right here in our area. Sleeping out for the night can educate each of us on how every single person can make a difference in ending homelessness and food insecurity in our highly impoverished community.

All proceeds and items collected during the Sleep Out will benefit The Salvation Army, which provides temporary shelter for the homeless; Second Harvest of South Georgia, which provides food and other grocery items to more than 300 partner agencies comprised of soup kitchens, rescue missions, abuse shelters, and other non-profit organizations; Flint River Habitat for Humanity, which aims to eliminate sub-standard housing amongst extremely impoverished people; and Mission:Change, which aims to raise money and awareness, and provide services for local individuals, causes and organizations in need.

Along with musical favorites from previous years, like the incomparable Gabriel and the New Priest, we're excited to announcethat this year's musical headliner will be Dove Award winning singer/songwriter Charlie Hall and his band, with the TJ Mauldin Band rounding out the lineup for what is sure to be a fantastic night of live music. We're also absolutely thrilled to announce that this year's keynote speaker will be Vaden Earle, author ofOne: A Face Behind the Numbers and founder and CEO of the not-for-profit Absolute Leadership Development. It's looking to to be an unforgettable night of community entertainment, education and action!

When: Friday, November 12

Where: Albany Exchange Club Fairgrounds (corner of Westover Blvd. and Oakridge Dr.)

Time: 7pm - 7am

for additional info: http://www.missionchange.com/mc/sleep-out-2010.html