November Charity of the Month

WTOP and Ackerman Security Systems Charity of the Month for November, National Homelessness Awareness Month, is Covenant House Washington.

It’s estimated that nearly 3,000 young people across the Washington metropolitan region struggle with homelessness each year. On any given night, 400 youth turn to sleep on the street as their last resort. Since 1995, Covenant House Washington has been a lifeline to more than 35,000 youth, providing crisis, educational and work training, and housing services to homeless and disconnected youth.

In 2013 alone, Covenant House Washington provided more than 53,000 meals, housing and sanctuary to more than 400 young people and their children, and educational and work readiness and employment support to nearly 250 individuals. Nearly 30 percent of GEDs earned in the nation’s capital were achieved through Covenant House’s WRET (Work Readiness and Education Training) program.

On November 20, Covenant House Washington will host its annual Candlelight Vigil & Sleep Out: Executive Edition downtown at Freedom Plaza beginning at 6:30 p.m. Hundreds of local leaders, community members, formerly homeless youth, and advocates will join to raise awareness and address the serious issues surrounding youth homelessness. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Following the vigil, dozens of business leaders will sleep out on the street in solidarity with homeless youth, to raise essential funds to support Covenant House Washington’s work. Advance registration for the Sleep Out is required.

To register for the Candlelight Vigil or Sleep Out, make a donation, and learn more about Covenant House Washington’s critical work to support an often invisible population, visit www.CovenantHouseDC.org.

WTOP charities are fed by Papa Johns. Visit them at www.papajohns.com