What began as a campaign to raise awareness about homelessness has turned into Central Coast 104.5 FM breakfast hosts Craig and Mandy giving up their beds for the night in support of the Coast Shelter.
As we reported earlier, the duo were so moved by stories they heard from clients of the shelter that they turned the focus of their campaign to not only outline common misconceptions and break the stereotypes associated homelessness, but to raise some much needed financial support.
The campaign began on their Monday morning show with a $1000 goal and the incentive that listeners were able choose what they would be sleeping on if their target was reached. Support from the community was strong and fast and it took less than one hour to raise the initial $1000.
When they asked what $1000 could do, Laurie Maher CEO of Coast Shelter replied, “$1,000 would actually cover the supplementary food to make the 1,200 meals they provide for a month.”
Other incentives were offered if certain targets were reached, including singing performances from Mandy for every $50 raised in a single morning and allowing local ice hokey star Jayson Chalker to hit pucks at Craig’s body.
On Thursday 21st the duo completed their campaign camping out in Westfield Tuggerah with Craig sleeping on a pile of mulch and Mandy on a park bench, with an alarm buzzing every 30 minutes to simulate interrupted sleep.
Unexpected and generous donations came from far and wide with a 7-year-old local girl Shannon donating $10 of her pocket money and the local Wyong Leagues Club donating $5000.
The Coast Shelter is a non-for-profit organization providing accommodation and support programs for the homeless or those at risk of becoming homeless. The campaign in total raised an unexpected and astounding $15,000 to go toward the shelter’s work and give it’s clients the chance to get their lives back on track.
Events like this show not only the power radio can have but also what a community can be capable of.
For more information on the Give Up Your Bed appeal see www.giveupyourbed.com.au
What a great article!