Tearing Down Local Youth Homelessness Awareness Fundraiser

Additional Information

Tearing Down Local Youth Homelessness:
‘Pathways 4 Youth’ Raising Funds and Awareness at Unique Oct. 12 Event
If you drive down Division Street on October 12 between noon and five o’clock, you’ll be looking at more than 100 mannequins dressed in orange hooded sweatshirts with this shocking message on the front—100+ youth are homeless in the St. Cloud area.

Representing each of our homeless local youths ages 16 to 24, these mannequins will be just one part of an impactful live fundraising event supporting Pathways 4 Youth, a St. Cloud nonprofit organization that provides help for these youths from its resource center on Cooper Avenue. Monetary donations raised at this event will provide the much-needed funding for the resource center to operate on a larger scale in our community.
This unique “Now That You Know” public fundraising event will be held outside across from Gilleland Chevrolet to showcase the reality of St. Cloud’s homeless youth, a mock homeless encampment will demonstrate the everyday hardships these youth face. Other live exhibits will be setup for people to “walk the path” of youth homelessness,
learning about the everyday struggles and hardships our local homeless youth face on our streets each night.
Donations will be accepted on-site, and the first $25,000 will be matched thanks to a grant made possible by the Joseph R. Parker Foundation. Funds will allow Pathways 4 Youth to continue to make a difference for St. Cloud’s homeless youth population. Online donations are also being accepted at pathways4youthmn.org.
“There is hope for these youth, these young people who live right here in St. Cloud,” said Tim Wensman, Board Chair of Pathways 4 Youth and local Rotarian. “We have seen the Pathways 4 Youth resources and the contributions of the local community come together and make a positive impact—we know more can be done with the funds raised through this October 12th event.”
Pathways 4 Youth is a local nonprofit organization started by members of our local Rotary and Rotaract Clubs. Located on
Cooper Avenue North, its doors are open from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Youth experiencing homelessness or who are at risk can come for a hot meal, take a shower, do their laundry, do homework and search for jobs, gather clothes and toiletry
items, and meet with counselors for ways to find employment, finish their education, and secure affordable housing.
“These youths have their entire futures ahead of them, and Pathways 4 Youth is a positive step forward in helping them get their lives back in order,” said John Bodette, Board Secretary of Pathways 4 Youth and local Rotarian.
Learn more about this unique event and about the organization at Pathways4YouthMN.org.