Where and how you sleep is up to you! We understand our supporters have varied levels of comfort. We hope you will register, bring a tent and join us at Morristown High School's football field for our first ever ANITC HQ! You can also participate from home, taking part with The Cold Collective, sleeping in places like a tent, sleeping bag, or your car, some of the ways those who are homeless and living on the street do when they are without shelter. Others may opt for their porch, garage floor, or parking lot at their place of worship (with permission). You can participate alone or in a group. It’s open to every one of all ages - families, individuals, faith and school groups, sports teams, the scouts, and businesses!
100% of the proceeds go towards Homeless Solutions' Shelter Programs & Services. This means every dollar you raise will help provide a warm, safe place for men, women, and families who are experiencing homelessness or are housing insecure to rebuild their lives. There are many reasons that bring people without housing to our doors. Sometimes they can no longer afford rent despite working three low-wage jobs and get evicted. Others are struggling to recover physically and financially from a debilitating illness, or even worse they have been abandoned or abused by their partner, leaving them to care for children on their own without sufficient financial resources. Giving one night and raising funds will make a difference!
When you register for A Night in the Cold, you’ll automatically get your own personal fundraising page. You can make it your own by adding a photo, sharing your story, setting a fundraising goal, and creating a custom link to share with friends and family. This is the link you’ll use to spread the word and collect donations directly to your page. Review our STARTER KIT and the fundraising emails we send for quick tips and tricks to make your fundraising easy!
If this is your first time fundraising—don’t worry! We’ve made it easy. You’ll receive helpful tools and regular coaching emails with tips to keep you on track. Your fundraising page will stay live for one day after the event (Saturday, December 6th), giving you time to share while the experience is fresh and receive additional support.
By participating in this event, there’s a good chance you’ll feel uncomfortable. You may feel unsure about familiar surroundings in the middle of the night or surprised by how cold early December can really be.
If you begin to feel too chilled or unsafe, please don’t hesitate to go inside—your safety is important. Choosing to go indoors is not a failure; rather, it reinforces the reality that many people experiencing homelessness simply don’t have that option. Recognizing that difference is a powerful part of understanding the challenges they face.
You’ll likely feel tired the next day, and that too mirrors the daily struggle of many who are unhoused—going to work or school after a restless, uncomfortable night. We deeply appreciate you giving up your comfort for one night to stand in solidarity with your neighbors in need.
Avoid sleeping directly on the ground; you can use something as simple as blankets or cardboard as a barrier between your body heat and the ground. Bring an extra pair of socks to change into right before you go to bed. Socks can be slightly damp from sweat if worn prior. Doing a physical activity like jumping jacks before bed will increase your body heat. Nothing too extreme as you don’t want to break a sweat. Wear a hat to bed, 6% of the body’s surface volume is on the head. A cold head can trigger the body to feel cold. Layer up: one of the simplest ways to stay warm is to layer dry clothing. Fleece and down layers can add a few extra degrees of heat.
Yes! You can do this on your own or as a team. Just complete the registration, select “individual” or “team”. You’ll be able to choose a team name for your group and, once you finish registering, share the link to your page and invite your friends, family, or coworkers to join. All team members should register and create their own fundraising page. You do not have to participate in A Night in the Cold in the same location as your team. Virtual teams are welcome!
You got this! We provide outreach templates to help with ideas but encourage you to include a short, personal note. It's helpful to share a personal story about why you want to be an advocate for those struggling with homelessness and why you’re choosing to fundraise for Homeless Solutions.
Don’t be afraid to ask! Most people will be happy to donate to a good cause and support your fundraising campaign. Think about everyone you know: friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues. Thank you for being a champion for Homeless Solutions and our community!
Yes! Go to the top, right side of your personal page, team page, or the homepage, there is a box that says "Invite a friend." We encourage you to build a team and experience A Night in the Cold together. If you can't be together that's okay, virtual teams are welcome!
The suggested fundraising minimum is $500, but aim high! We make it easy. Our Starter Kit (see tab above) will give you the tools and tips you need to reach your goal.
Yes! We want to show our appreciation to our fundraisers. Participants that raise $500 will receive a HSI baseball cap. 1 hat per individual or team. And, participants that meet the $1,000 level will receive a custom event fleece jacket INDIVIDUALS that raise $1000+ receive 1 hat and 1 fleece. TEAMS that raise $1,000+ receive 1 fleece for every $1,000 raised.
You can drop off or send those donations to our admin office, or if you are joining the Headquarters at Morristown High School, bring it to check-in. Please make sure you tell us your name and we will add that amount to your campaign.
Our mailing address:
Homeless Solutions
c/o Stephanie Cicale
3 Wing Drive, Suite 245
Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927
We are so grateful to our volunteers! There are many ways to get involved from cooking at the shelter to leading educational workshops for our participants, planting in our garden, joining Special Event committees, hosting donation drives, and more. For more information contact Volunteer Manager Tamala Reynolds at tamalareynolds@hsinj.org.
Please reach out to Events & Donor Relations Manager at JulieHess@hsinj.org