Night Without a Bed

A Youth Fundraising and Awareness Event to Combat Homelessness

Saturday, March 28, 6:00 PM – Sunday, March 29, 8:00 AM
The Fort Athletic Club, 114 Saltzman Avenue, Oceanport, NJ 07757

Help us reach our $150,000 goal!

Get involved! Start your own fundraising campaign!

If you have any additional questions or would like to sponsor this event,
please contact Gillian Sahadi at nwbevent@lunchbreak.org.

Did you know that in Monmouth County approximately 200 children are homeless on any given night? Every year in America, over 3 million children experience homelessness. Lunch Break and Family Promise are proud to invite Monmouth County youth to participate in Night Without A Bed to raise awareness and funds to help those who are experiencing homelessness.

The mission of Night Without A Bed event is to provide an opportunity for Monmouth County youth to learn about the plight of families and children who are experiencing homelessness every night. In addition to raising awareness, Night Without A Bed also raises essential funds to support program operations such as: food, clothing, emergency shelter, comprehensive case management, transportation, life skills training and prevention/stabilization for our families. Participants are asked to sleep in a hand-crafted box for one night in addition to raising pledges for the cause.

Group of people in front of their cardboard box shelter for night without a bed event
2026 SPONSORS COMING SOON!2026 SPONSORS COMING SOON!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You will learn first-hand about the struggles facing families experiencing homelessness by spending the night without the comforts of home, sleeping in a cardboard box, and bonding with other participants in a shared experience.  
  • The funds you raise personally will go towards Lunch Break’s Family Promise of Monmouth County programs such as food, clothing, emergency shelter, comprehensive case management, transportation, life skills training and prevention/stabilization for our families. 
  • Participants will earn community service hours for their participation (16 hours if you stay the whole night or 8 hours if you leave at 11pm).

Indoors in the gymnasium at The Fort Athletic Club located inside Fort Monmouth at 114 Saltzman Avenue, Oceanport, NJ 07757. Please enter on the Fort Hoops side of the building.

  • We request a minimum of $150 in pledges and contributions per person. Every donation we receive goes directly to Lunch Break’s Family Promise program and providing vital resources and case management to families experiencing homelessness. The top fundraisers will win a prize! 
  • Adult chaperones are not required to raise funds, but are encouraged to do so.

To fundraise you may:

  • Donate funds
  • Collect pledges through our website 
  • Organize a fundraising event like a car wash, bake sale, or anything your imagination and resources allow!

Yes! While sleeping in a cardboard box can provide a valuable lesson in empathy, we understand that you may not be able to do so. You may still participate as a “Virtual Resident” (raise funds but sleep at home). Virtual Residents are warmly welcome to attend the evening program at Night Without A Bed, including soup-line dinner, speakers and live entertainment from 6-10pm.

If you are sleeping overnight we require a minimum of one adult chaperone for every TEN participants under the age of 18 yrs. Additionally, we have hired security staff and volunteers serve as security staff at all hours of the event. Click here for the Chaperone Registration Google Form. 

Yes! You may leave early at 11 PM.  While we strongly believe sleeping in a cardboard box can provide a valuable lesson in empathy, we understand that you may not be able to do so. You may still participate, bring your box and set it up, and raise $150 but sleep at home. You are warmly welcome to attend the evening program at Night Without A Bed, including soup-line dinner, speakers and quiet hours. We still require one adult chaperone for every TEN participants under 18 yrs. who are NOT sleeping over.

Yes! And just like camping, in the morning, participants must clean up their campsite and take their cardboard box home. Regardless if you’re sleeping over or leaving at 11PM – all participants must bring and set up their own cardboard boxes. You can bring a large box from home, call an appliance store that often recycles large boxes, or find one at a hardware store. 

  • Regardless if you are staying the whole night, remain mindful of the decisions a homeless person has to make, and please limit yourself to the following items: Cardboard box, sleeping bag, pad, pillow, warm clothes. You may bring medications, cell phones and essential toiletries, but please refrain from bringing outside food, or other non-essential items. Bring any art supplies you would like to use to decorate your box for a chance to win the contest!
  • Even if you aren’t sleeping over, you are expected to bring a box of your own to set up. We will be having quiet hours when you will be resting/sleeping in your box. 
  • The following items are not allowed: Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, no smoking of any kind, beverages in glass bottles, weapons of any kind, personal electronic devices such as video games.

Youth groups and student organizations registering with 5 or more members are encouraged to raise a minimum of $150 per youth. Groups are encouraged to set a collective fundraising goal above the minimum. The individual and group that raise the most collectively will be recognized at the event!

Absolutely not!  People of all ages participate in Night Without A Bed.