On Saturday, Nov. 3, youth groups from three Hinsdale churches, United Methodist Church, Union Church and St. Isaac Jogues, will participate in the 9th annual Sleep Out Saturday, an all-night event to raise awareness of and funds for homeless families in DuPage County.  They will assemble their sleep-out sites using cardboard boxes, tents, sleeping bags and lots of warm blankets on the lawns of their respective churches.

The night will kick-off with a rally in downtown Glen Ellyn at 7 pm and will feature emcee Stefan Holt from NBC5.

County-wide, more than 1,500 youth will be participating in Sleep Out Saturday, the largest fundraiser of the year for Bridge Communities, a transitional housing program for DuPage County families that have lost their home.  Despite DuPage County's affluence, an estimated 18,000 additional people were living below the poverty level between 2010 and 2011.  The average age of a homeless person in DuPage County is eight.

Bridge Communities supports approximately 100 families each year with funds raised from Sleep Out Saturday and other benefits.  Families in the program receive two years of housing, financial planning assitance, career counseling and other support from local mentors.

For more information, or to make a donation online, visit www.sleepoutsaturday.org.