DuPage County's Sleep Out Saturday fundraises for Bridge Communities program

GLEN ELLYN, Ill. (WLS) -- Teenagers across DuPage County are getting their sleeping bags and tents ready for the 12th annual Sleep Out Saturday on Nov. 7. The all-night, outdoor fundraiser helps Bridge Communities, a Glen Ellyn-based transitional housing and mentorship program for DuPage County homeless families.

On Sleep Out Saturday, 75 camp sites will be scattered throughout the county on church lawns, school parking lots, and in families' back yards.

In 2013, DuPage County had 64,737 people with incomes below the poverty level. Children make up 9.8 percent of the poverty population. Since the first Sleep Out Saturday in 2004, more than 11,000 people have slept out to help homeless families, raising more than one million dollars to date. Every $35 raised provides one night of housing for a homeless family.

Sleep Out Saturday kicks off with a rally and concert in downtown Glen Ellyn at 505 Crescent Blvd. from 6-8 p.m. The event is free and open for everyone to enjoy. It will feature live music from the School of Rock. It will also be emceed by ABC 7 Eyewitness News anchor Judy Hsu.

Amy Van Polen, from Bridge Communities, and Melina Thurmond, who is participating in Sleep Out Saturday, visited the ABC7 State Street Studio to talk about Sleep Out Saturday and how the money raised will help the homeless.

Sleep Out Saturday

Saturday, Nov. 7 starting at 6 p.m.

505 Crescent Blvd., Glen Ellyn

Admission/ticket prices: Free

The School of Rock benefit concert and rally starts at 6 p.m., 505 Crescent Blvd., downtown Glen Ellyn.