Event to Raise Awareness of Cape Homeless
Every year, Alan Burt and other advocates for the homeless pitch their tents outside a house of worship on a cold night in December to raise awareness of homelessness on Cape Cod. This year, Burt and others, including some church members, will spend the night outside the Waquoit Congregational Church in East Falmouth on Saturday, Dec. 13.
“It’s our way of letting the public know that there are people on the Cape, including Falmouth, who are homeless. And yes, some actually live in tents,” says Burt, who is one of the founders of Homeless Not Hopeless Inc. that has several shelters for the homeless in Hyannis.
In addition to staging the “sleep out,” Burt will share his reflections as an advocate for the homeless at the Waquoit Church at 7 p.m., that same day. Other speakers include Billy Bishop and Bob Mcgillveary who will address the homelessness issue and how people can help. Comedian Preston Simpson of Waquoit will also speak; he has hosted local fundraisers to help the homeless. The presentation is free and opened to the public. Donations of new socks and hats gladly accepted.
“We are happy to host this important presentation and event here,” said Rev. Nell Fields, minister of the Waquoit Church. “We want to help raise awareness of the plight of the homeless on the Cape. We may think this is something that happens in the cities, but it is an issue right here in our towns and villages. If you want to make a difference in someone’s life, you can do so Dec. 13 by learning how you can help the homeless.”
The idea of hosting this during the winter season is intentional, Fields noted. “Not only is it cold outside, it is often raining or snowing,” she said. “Most of us have a warm, safe place to sleep. The homeless do not.”
In addition to this event, the Waquoit Church is collecting new socks and hats, and gently used blankets and coats that will be distributed to the homeless through a number of agencies. Donations of these items can be made at the church anytime throughout the winter.
For more information on the event and how you can help the homeless, contact Rev. Nell Fields at (508) 548-5269 or Alan Burt 508-648-2246 or alanrburtmail@yahoo.com .
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