Sleeping Out, Looking for Light

It was cold sleeping outside last night. Frost-on-your-sleeping bag kind of cold. But that was sort of the point.

The Covenant House Sleep Out was as unique an event as you could imagine. Over 300 “sleepers” spending the night on the cold turf of MetLife Stadium and, in the process, raising over $1.5 million for Covenant House New Jersey (CHNJ).

Saquon Barkley served as the chairman, and this was no celebrity athlete honorary role. Saquon’s persistent dedication to Covenant House and its mission is extraordinary. In addition to visiting the centers, Saquon meets with Covenant House youth after EVERY home game, win or lose. Quite a man of principle.

The truth is we slept very little last night. Trying to rig up cardboard boxes, sleeping bags and garbage bags to keep warm in sub-freezing temperatures is no easy task. But it was only for one night. We didn’t kid ourselves that this replicated the challenges of homelessness for the youth served by Covenant House. But it did galvanize support, compassion and awareness.

What's more, the exponential growth of this initiative has been led by my brother, James White who has worked with homeless youth for over four decades.

A real solution to youth homelessness.

We gave up our beds for one night to ensure that youth facing homelessness can sleep safely at CHNJ. There young people are welcomed with love and respect. They can access safe shelter, nourishing food, clean clothing, and essential services like job training, education, healthcare, mental health counseling, and legal aid – all the tools they need to build futures free from homelessness. CHNJ is also the only statewide provider of human trafficking survivor services regardless of age, housing status, or referral source.

Most of all, it provides a light in the darkness.

The most wonderful time of the year – maybe.

In many ways, this year’s holiday season is a study in contradictions. War and conflict rage, while organizations of all stripes tap into our better angels, asking for – and receiving – enormous support in a seasonal burst of generosity.

While a decided minority of people on the planet – a vocal minority but a minority nonetheless – manipulate faith into hate, so many more put faith into action to serve others in ways that don’t make it to the top of the newsfeed.

This holiday season, we have a choice to make once again. We can fuel the hate or starve it of oxygen. We can curse the darkness or be the light.

Choosing the light.

I urge you to be the light. No matter what your faith, or no faith at all.

As Hanukkah is celebrated, I think of the lamp that burned so many days beyond the one day’s worth of oil. Light in the darkness.

I think of my business partners of two decades sharing with me the end of Ramadan. A joyful family celebration after so many days of fasting. Light in the darkness.

In my own Catholic faith, Advent candles are lit over four consecutive weeks in preparation for Christmas. Light in the darkness.

Humanity seems designed to disagree, but we all feel the same warmth of the same sun. Light in the darkness.

Merry/Happy/Joyous/Peaceful holiday wishes to you and yours, however you mark the days.

And by all means, please: Starve the hate. Be the light.

So many great humans were part of this effort, including Paul Fallon , Reilly White , Morgan White , Jack Kiley , Sean Byrne , Christina Terranova Asselta , Sam Caucci , Bobby Williams , Barry Ervin

Tom White is a business communications consultant, content writer and President & Creative Director at The White Agency, Inc. A copywriter by training, he assists clients in all aspects of creating a better message, from strategy to copy to speechwriting. "I say what you'd say, only better."

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