Mellencamp Promotes Tent City/1Mile Matters Set for 10/29-31
Tent City Press Conference/Announcements
Friday, September 17, 2010
11:00 AM
1919 W. Madison Ave.
Cherry Street Mission Madison Food Service and Community Center
(Note: This is not the main Cherry Street Mission Building)
Who: Ken Leslie (1Matters), Dan Rogers (Cherry Street Mission), Richard Langford (Mildred Bayer Clinic for the Homeless), Steve Anthony (Toledo Area Ministries)
Announcements: Tent City Dates, Tent City Volunteers, announcement of the John Mellencamp promoted inaugural walk - “1Mile Matters,” The Mellencamp PSA’s will be available for TV stations. PSA's for Radio Station in process. (To view the John Mellencamp PSA's visit 1Matters.org or Johnmellencamp.com)
Without action compassion is just a word.
When John Mellencamp visited our Toledo Tent City, he was truly impressed how our community comes together to support the unhoused. Impressed enough, and touched enough by the experience to lend his efforts to continue to promote 1Matters and our community’s work locally and nationally.
According to HUD, due to job loss and foreclosures, the number of families with children living on our streets and in our shelters is up 30% since 2007.
Since 1990 1Matters – Tent City has worked to move the unhoused off the streets and into housing, connect to services, and advocate as their voice at the table.
Tent City rises again October 29-31, 2010, and will bring together churches, business, government, and the media to put the spotlight on the needs of those who have lost domestic autonomy in our community.
This year on Saturday October 30th, we are adding the inaugural walk, 1Mile Matters. Promoted by singer John Mellencamp, this 1Mile walk will end with lunch at Tent City.
Each year Tent City is supported by the generosity of the community. The City of Toledo, Lucas County, United Way, churches, schools, businesses, groups, and individuals just like you donate their time, talent, or treasure to be 1 who Matters to people who Matter.
Presenting sponsors again this year are Cherry Street Mission, NHA Mildred Bayer Clinic for the Homeless, Mercy Health Partners, and Toledo Area Ministries. Thank you for your continued support!
What Can People Do to Help?
Talk the Talk: Tell everyone about Tent City and 1Mile Matters. Our job is simply to give people the opportunity to get involved so those moved so, will. Tell them to go to 1Matters.org
Walk the Walk:
Walk, build a team, or sponsor a walker for 1Mile Matters.
Volunteer to serve over Tent City weekend.
Organize an October winter clothing drive at your school, home, business, group, or organization.
Camp out overnight to teach the pain of poverty to your children, students, youth group, fraternity, or sorority.
Take your winter clothing donation to any Toledo or suburban fire station during the month of October.
Make a tax-deductable gift to help 1Matters change the world 1 at a time.
Visit 1Matters.org for other opportunities.
Needed items include backpacks, long underwear, sweatshirts, jeans, winter coats, hats, gloves, and personal hygiene items. Larger sizes of clothing are appreciated.
About Tent City 2010
Tent City is a weekend-long event running from Friday, 10/29/2010 to Sunday, 10/31/2010, and is exclusively devoted to helping those who have lost domestic autonomy.
Highlights this year include:
Friday’s Opening Ceremonies, international meal, and entertainment all night.
Saturday’s inaugural walk, 1Mile Matters, Project Humanity Connect, Community Dinner, and entertainment all night.
Sunday’s Reverse Celebrity Pancake Breakfast & Worship service ends the weekend.
Project Humanity Connect is the keystone for the weekend. From 9 am to 4 pm guests will be connected to free services including medical, dental, optical, hearing, podiatry, and health screenings. Additional items include showers, haircuts, birth certificates, state ID’s or driver’s licenses, clothing, hygiene items. Most importantly, getting connected to the services which can restore them to domestic autonomy.
The founding inspiration for 1Matters was a visit by singer John Mellencamp to our Tent City in 2007. Since then, John continues to support and promote 1Matters as well as all of those who have lost domestic autonomy worldwide.
John was impressed how the entire community came together to Matter to many in our community who need our compassion. We hope you will join us this year to come together once again.
Every 1 Matters, won’t you?
Press Release Contact Name: Ken Leslie
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Organization Name: 1Matters
Website or Link: 1Matters.org