It’s early spring and nights are barely reaching the low 40s, so why would anyone with a warm bed to sleep in subject themselves to sleeping outside?

Saturday night, Iowa State students and the Ames community will be doing just that at Jack Trice Stadium in support of Reggie’s Sleepout.

Reggie’s Sleepout began in 2001 in honor of a homeless youth named Reggie Kelsey, who aged out of the foster care system. After bouncing from shelter to shelter, he was found dead in the Des Moines River three months after he left the system.

His death led to the Youth and Shelter Services (YSS) creating the Iowa Aftercare Services Center to provide care to those aging out of foster care, which now also provides a monthly stipend and additional services.

This year is the first year Reggie’s Sleepout will take place at Iowa State and Drake University, which has hosted the event for over a decade.

At Reggie’s Sleepout, participants bring boxes, sleeping bags and tents to raise funds and awareness for child and youth homelessness in the community. People may use tape to keep their boxes together, but no staples or nails.

The sleepout aims to raise awareness of homelessness by simulating what it’s like to be homeless by sleeping outside whatever the weather. In the case of rain, there will be covered shelter available. Based on past years, they offer five pieces of advice on their website:

• Bring a tarp or layer of cardboard to put under your box, tent or sleeping bag.
• Do not bring a cot to sleep on. Cots actually are colder to sleep on than the ground.
• Wear a hat – preferably wool – all night.
• Wear clean, dry socks (again, wool is a good choice).
• Bring extra sweatshirts, coats, blankets, etc.

They recognize that while sleeping outside for one night can’t truly replicate what it’s likely to be homeless, they hope it provides insight into the lives of people without homes.

Since its beginning, the sleepout has seen more than 10,000 campers and raised more than $1.7 million. The goal for the Ames sleepout this Saturday is to have a thousand participants and raise $100,000. As of Thursday night, they had raised nearly $75,000.

Funds raised will go to YSS, Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support (ACCESS) and Emergency Residence Project (ERP).

Food will be provided at the sleepout, so outside food, gum and beverages will not be allowed. 

The sleepout will see several forms of entertainment, including activities, music and games. They will also host the McFarland Clinic Boxed-In Design Contest.

The contest is supposed to “educate and advocate for youth homelessness by creating a box structure that shares information, tells a story, and gives hope,” according to the Reggie’s Sleepout website.

Boxes will be judged on their education about homelessness, creativity, comfort and livability. They may not be taller than 15 feet.

There will be security at the sleepout as well, including professional security and volunteer field marshals. Prior to 10 p.m., participants may come and go, but no one will be allowed in after that time.