Volunteers To Spend Day, Night Outside To Raise Money For Westborough Residents In Need

WESTBOROUGH, MA — Four volunteers in Westborough will spend a day and a night outside later this month as part of an annual homeless winter sleep-out event.

The sixth annual “A Night In The Cold” event will take place on Feb. 28 at Colonial Plaza on 45 East Main St. The event is meant to spread awareness to the plight of people experiencing homelessness.

This year, the beneficiary of the event will be the Westborough Food Pantry, which provides food to residents in need and partners with other local organizations.

The four volunteers sleeping outside are the event’s founder and coordinator, John Bogaert, and volunteers Scott Henderson, Eric Hammond, and Lisa Scott.

Henderson and Hammond have slept out for multiple years, while this will be Scott’s first year.

“This cause is deeply personal to me. Growing up, I relied on free lunch at school and my mother, sister and I depended on food assistance programs to get by, so I understand food insecurity firsthand. No one should have to face that uncertainty,” Scott said.

Bogaert said last year’s event had a 41-degree temperature drop between day and night with wind chills below zero. Even still, "A Night In The Cold" has raised over $110,000 total over the past five years for people experiencing homelessness throughout the state.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to support people in need within our community,” said Bogaert. “Food insecurity, combined with the rising cost of other essential necessities, leaves many individuals and families teetering on the brink of homelessness. These donations are critical in helping ensure they don’t fall over that edge.”

You can donate directly on the Westborough Food Pantry’s website, on Facebook, or on donate2homeless.org.

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