Abby’s House is proud to partner with John Bogaert for his annual “A Night in the Cold” fundraiser for a local program supporting people experiencing homelessness. As the first women’s shelter to open in Worcester in 1976 and the largest provider of supportive affordable housing for women, with or without children, Abby’s House has been at the forefront assisting women and their children who are experiencing homelessness due to trauma, unemployment or underemployment, disability, physical or mental health issues, lack of affordable housing, unexpected emergency expenses, substance use, or other causes. Abby’s House creates a home that is welcoming, healing, and supportive of each individual women’s experiences and goals. Through the support of the community, volunteers, and donors, Abby’s House has been able to help more than 15,500 women over 47 years. Fundraisers like “A Night in the Cold” raises awareness of the needs of people experiencing homelessness in the community, and raises much needed funds for programs to assist people in their journeys.
To learn more about the event, read the news below about the February 25, 2023 fundraiser in Westborough and visit www.donate2homeless.org.
To donate to this fundraiser, click the “Donate” button at the top of this page, and choose “John Bogaert Fundraiser” in the “My Donation is For*” drop-down.
Full and original article posted on Community Advocate online.
Spend ‘A Night in the Cold’ to help the homeless
By Maureen Sullivan -February 14, 2023
WESTBOROUGH – On the last weekend in February, several residents will spend “A Night in the Cold” to help a local homeless program.
John Bogaert touring the largest property of supportive housing and main offices at 52 High Street with Senior Director of Development and Communications, Kelly Whalen.
On Saturday, Feb. 25, volunteers will join organizer John Bogaert in raising awareness about homelessness.
During that day, volunteers will be at Colonial Plaza at 45 East Main St. to solicit donations and raise awareness about the issue. In the evening, they will sleep outdoors in boxes.
This year’s beneficiary will be Abby’s House in Worcester, which helps homeless women and children.
Bogaert said that they are working to help forward the mission of Abby’s House to “to provide shelter and affordable housing, as well as advocacy and support services, to homeless, battered and low-income women, with or without children.”
“We are very humbled and grateful for the support from John and this event,” said Kelly C. Whalen, senior director of development and communication for Abby’s House.
Abby’s House currently offers a temporary overnight shelter for women with and without children. It operates 72 single-room supportive housing units for women, along with seven two-bedroom apartments for women and children in three buildings in Worcester.
Whalen said that Abby’s House is about to begin a renovation project that will expand its original shelter from nine beds to 18.
Click here to read full article.
Full and original article posted on Patch.com.
Westborough 2023 ‘A Night In The Cold’ Gains Support From Students
Westborough High School students will join this weekend’s homelessness fundraiser, where volunteers sleep outdoors.
Neal McNamara, Patch Staff
Posted Tue, Feb 21, 2023
WESTBOROUGH, MA — A new annual tradition in Westborough that raises money for homeless residents will return this weekend, and the organizers will have some new help.
The third annual “A Night In The Cold” fundraiser will be held in the downtown Westborough area Saturday with organizers and supporters spending a day and night living outdoors and sleeping in cardboard boxes.
Founder John Bogaert will be joined outdoors this year by Westborough High School seniors Brady Henderson and Gray Sassetti. Members of the high school’s new Westborough Helps the Homeless club will create signs for the event, spread awareness on social media and help during the daylong event.
Click here to read full article.
Full and original article posted on Spectrum News 1.
Abby’s House, volunteers spend ‘A Night in the Cold’
This year, temperatures will remain in the low 20s and teens for “A Night in the Cold.” Volunteers said the frigid temperatures only serve to underline the struggles faced by those who often have nowhere to go. While spending one night sleeping inside a cardboard box in a Westborough parking lot only represents a fraction of those struggles, it can help raise money and awareness.
Read full article and view video here.
Full and original article posted on Community Advocate online.
‘Night in the Cold’ raises $20,000 for Abby’s House
WESTBOROUGH – A refrigerator box for a bed.A barrel fire to ward off the chill.For five people, for one night, it was a chance to experience what it’s like to be homeless.
For them and others, it was also a chance to raise funds and awareness about homelessness.
The weather – cold and calm with snow showers as evening arrived – was just what organizers wanted.
“This is the perfect night. It’s the kind of night that makes a statement,” said John Bogaert, who has organized the event for the past three years.
Click here to read full article.
Night in the Cold: A fundraiser to support Abby’s House in Worcester
March 1, 2023
Living in Massachusetts, we all understand how the New England cold can be, especially during the winter. Two Westborough residents Scott Henderson and John Bogaert acknowledged this weather and couldn’t help but think about the people who have to endure this cold all day with no other option.
Henderson shares, “We discussed the coldness was fine for half an hour–hour while skating or hiking, but would be tough every night.”
Henderson and Bogaert began to discuss how this weather must affect those who suffer from homelessness, and began “A Night in the Cold” fundraiser to “draw awareness to the plight of homelessness in a small way,” Henderson says.
Click here to read full article.