This February, a team of companions and staff (and a dog!) are braving a winter sleepout to stand in solidarity with those experiencing homelessness and displacement from conflict.
Joining forces with Cambridge Convoy Refugee Action Group (CamCRAG), we’re calling on the public to #BeMoreKind and support the group’s city sleepout at St Giles’ Church, Cambridge, on the weekend of 10th & 11th February.
The public is invited to sign up for the sleepout or contribute through donations to support Emmaus Cambridge and CamCRAG. Leading up to the sleepout, a Winter Fair will be hosted at St Giles’ Church on Saturday, 10th February, from 12 pm to 4 pm. This event will feature a variety of stalls offering vintage clothes & books, food & drink, crafts, a raffle, and much more. Everyone is invited to come along!
Also in February, our charity is marking a significant milestone in its history, inspired by the Emmaus movement’s founding in France in 1954. The Emmaus founder’s passionate call for public help in addressing homelessness led to an Uprising of Kindness, triggering unprecedented donations and fostering the movement’s growth. Now, 70 years later, Emmaus Cambridge reflects on progress and encourages the public to #BeMoreKind to those in need, the planet, and themselves.
We aim to ignite another Uprising of Kindness, this time in support of CamCRAG and the millions of people in Europe displaced by war and conflict. Companions from Emmaus, individuals who have experienced homelessness and found a home at Emmaus Cambridge, along with Emmaus staff, will sleep out in solidarity.
Jon Cook, an Emmaus companion, expresses the significance of the sleepout, stating, “The sleepout is a great way we can all stand together in solidarity and support one another. People are still freezing to death on the streets, and millions are living in poverty. This is our way of making a difference and saying we won’t have it.”
This marks CamCRAG’s sixth sleepout since 2018, with donations from each event supporting the organization’s efforts to send donations and volunteers to help refugees in the Calais area.
Donna Talbot, CEO of Emmaus Cambridge, encourages everyone to view the sleepout as an opportunity to show kindness to others. She emphasizes that donations of any level will make a significant difference, ensuring that those often overlooked are recognized and supported.
To get involved and support CamCRAG and Emmaus Cambridge, you can donate here or visit the Winter Fair on Saturday, 10th February, at St Giles’ Church, CB3 OAQ. Join Emmaus Cambridge in this Uprising of Kindness and make a positive impact on the lives of those experiencing homelessness and displacement.