Cardboard boxes, burning fires and weary people will be dotting Redway Plain in the heart of Rehoboth during the weekend of November 9-11^th. If you’re thinking, "That’s a sign of homeless people," you’re right. That’s exactly the picture the organizers of Rehoboth’s first Homelessness Awareness Weekend want to paint.

This curious sight will be part of "There’s No Place Like A Home", a project organized by the members of the Rehoboth Youth Group, which is sponsored by the Rehoboth Congregational Church. The intent of the three-day event is to increase community awareness about the on-going crisis of homelessness in America and to raise money to assist local aid programs such as the Rehoboth Food Pantry, Crossroads in Providence, Our Daily Bread in Taunton, and other food pantries and soup kitchens in our area.

During the weekend, approximately 50 teens from Rehoboth and surrounding towns will camp out using only those items they are able to carry into a make-shift "shanty town" outdoors on Redway Plain. The group’s intent is to sacrifice a few days’ comfort to show compassion for fellow citizens affected by the plight of homelessness. The camp will become a collection site for monetary donations and contributions of non-perishable food items to be dispersed to local programs. In addition, the teens will be fanning out in teams to solicit donations at local business and community locations.

The weekend will begin Friday night with a kick-off ceremony at the Rehoboth Congregational Church and a candlelight walk to Redway Plain. On Saturday night, participants will prepare and serve a home-cooked meal to approximately 150 people at Crossroads in Providence. The event will wrap-up Sunday morning with a special service at 10:00 at the Rehoboth Congregational Church, in which participants will share their experiences with others.

Inspiration for the project came from a week-long mission trip to Washington, DC undertaken by twenty members of the Rehoboth Youth Group. During the trip, the teens worked hand-in-hand with members of the homeless community in shelters, soup kitchens and community outreach programs throughout the city. They learned unforgettable lessons about the true causes and effects of the plight of homelessness. After the experiences and education of the trip, the teens returned home eager to find ways to do more to help others in their own community. 

The group hopes that their 36-plus hours of "voluntary homelessness" will raise more than $10,000 for local aid programs. With winter fast approaching, we enter the season when the reality for those who are truly homeless is quite grave. These teens are committed to making a difference in the lives of individuals and families who don’t have permanent homes.

If you’re interested in helping the "There’s No Place Like A Home" Project: