Let’s change lives together. We can work toward a day when homelessness is a rare, brief, and one time event.

Give a little or a lot to help our friends, neighbors, and loved ones who, as I did, might be struggling to manage illness, job loss, or even a family member's death and thus are being pushed into poverty and homelessness.

My mother battled cancer for almost eleven years. I don't talk much about the early days of her illness. However, during this time, the thought of losing our home was relentless. I wasn't able to sleep at night and spent most days worrying.

Because of a tight budget, a stable income, and the generosity of family and friends, I moved my family beyond living paycheck to paycheck - it took three years. Three years and I was finally free from worrying that we would lose our house and end up homeless.

As a way of paying forward the kindness and generosity shown to my family and me, I'm sleeping outside on September 10 to raise funds for Out of the Cold's #dreambig campaign. Donations will support a permanent 24/7/365 low barrier shelter in Centre County.

Just a small donation will go a long way to helping me meet my goal for Out of the Cold Centre County!