Lakewood Teens Giving Up Electronics for a Night to Learn about Plight of the Homeless

Imagine today’s teenagers voluntarily giving up their cell phones, music and other forms of entertainment for a night. 

That action is part  of a life lesson for members of the St. Peter's Episcopal Church & All Saint’s Episcopal Church (Parma) youth groups.  They will be finding out just what it is like to be homeless on the night of Saturday, January 19th. 

In addition to giving up all their electronics, the teens  will be sleeping outside in boxes overnight on the front lawn of  St. Peter’s which is located at 18001 Detroit Avenue at the corner of West Clifton and Detroit in Lakewood. 

It is all part of the church’s annual homeless sleep out. Youth from Lakewood Congregational Church across the street will also be participating in the sleep out. 

The evening will start out with a dinner of bread and soup, similar to what a homeless person might eat. After that, the students will hit the streets to panhandle. 

All the money raised from cars passing by and people on the street will be donated to the Lakeside Emergency Men’s Shelter.  The shelter serves up to 350 men per night. Located in downtown Cleveland at 2100 Lakeside, it is the largest men’s shelter in Ohio.  

Last year, St. Peter’s youth group raised more than $2,000 from the sleep out.