BRATTLEBORO – On Friday, May 9 the Brattleboro Area Drop-In Center and Morningside Shelter will host the second annual Camp for a Common Cause on the Brattleboro Common. The collaborative fund- and awareness-raising event was a great success last year, with roughly $10,000 raised and evenly split between the two organizations working to alleviate homelessness in the greater Brattleboro area. Most importantly, last year’s participants and the community gained valuable awareness and perspective on homelessness in our community.
“It was chilly overnight – in the 30’s,” said Heidi Risner, a participant who raised almost $300 from family and friends to support last year’s event. “Luckily, I was warm in my tent and sleeping bag, realizing that these are not luxuries often afforded to the homeless. It was definitely a meaningful reminder of what some in our community experience on a daily basis.”
This year’s Camp for a Common Cause will feature a family-friendly Community Barbecue with face painting and live music from local favorites Groove Prophet beginning at 6pm. Tickets for the Barbecue are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available for sale at Morningside Shelter (81 Royal Road, Brattleboro), the Brattleboro Area Drop-In Center (60 South Main Street, Brattleboro) and the Shoe Tree (135 Main Street, Brattleboro). The Barbecue is open to the public.
Participating Campers are asked to raise a suggested minimum of $100 per person, or $250 per team to be evenly split between Morningside and the Drop-In Center. All contributions are fully tax-deductible. Barbecue tickets are included for campers who meet the suggested fundraising minimum, and great prizes will be awarded to the top fundraisers. Additionally, Jessica Bennett of Hair by Jessica has donated a free haircut to the camper who emerges with the Worst Hair on Saturday morning. Campers may begin setting up tents on the Common from 4pm on Friday, May 9th and are asked to pack up by 10am on Saturday, May 10th after a light breakfast.
Campers, and those wishing to make a contribution to a participating camper or team, should visit MorningsideShelter.org and follow the links to register and/or donate on FirstGiving. Donations can also be mailed to: Morningside Shelter, PO Box 370, Brattleboro, VT 05302 (with checks made payable to Morningside Shelter.)
For more information about this event, contact Libby at lbennett@morningsideshelter.org or 802.257.0066 x101.
Libby Bennett
Development Director
Morningside Shelter
81 Royal Road | PO Box 370
Brattleboro, VT 05302
P: (802) 257-0066 x101
F: (802) 257-0286
lbennett@morningsideshelter.org
Photo: Chad Simmons emerges from his tent after a night of camping on the Brattleboro Common at last year’s Camp for a Common Cause. Photo credit: Jeff Woodward Photography.
