On Saturday, Nov. 7, Bridge Communities held its 12th annual Sleep Out Saturday Kickoff Concert in Glen Ellyn. Sleep Out Saturday is a charity event that helps raise money for homeless families to get back on their feet.

Since 2004, Bridge Communities has raised over one million dollars for these families. This year, School of Rock bands performed throughout the night. Judy Hsu, an ABC7 morning news anchor and emcee for the night, spoke about the families that have been helped through the Bridge Communities Housing Program.

“It is because of your support that we can keep the programs going at Bridge Communities,” Hsu said.

According to the Bridge communities website, 3.1 percent of DuPage County residents live in extreme poverty, which amounts to 28,384 people. A single mother who shared her story on stage was once part of that 3.1 percent. She was in an abusive relationship and was thrown out of her house two years ago in the middle of December, and had no where to stay except her car. She lived there for four days before finding Bridge Communities, which helped her pay off bills, get out of debt, and take care of her 4-year-old son, Jayden.

When Judy Hsu asked her “What would you have done if Bridge wasn’t there?” the mother responded, “That’s a scary question. I don’t know, I don’t know. I know I wouldn’t be here. I’d still be struggling, still be owing bills, be in debt, paycheck to paycheck. I would be nowhere where I am right now.” She plans on leaving the housing program soon and get an apartment with her son.

A second family of four, two parents with their two daughters also spoke at the event. The housing program helped the family, and now the oldest daughter is going to be starting college soon. She said she hopes to work for a non profit organization like Bridge Communities as they “helped her dream come true.”