A “Sleepout,” will be held on the Prince Edward County Courthouse lawn from 10 p.m. Dec. 2 until 5 a.m. Dec. 3 to help raise money for STEPS. The event is organized by Taikein Cooper and sponsored by the Phi Beta Sigma chapter at Longwood University. According to Cooper, he first became involved with a “Sleepout” while at the University of North Carolina (UNC).

“It’s designed to raise money and awareness for homelessness,” Cooper said.

The Sleepout will have participants sleeping outdoors.

“It’s humbling to spend the night in the elements on a cold fall night and being homeless,” Cooper said. “Even for just one night, taught me so much about gratitude and empathy.”

He said that his first job was in housing, “So this is near and dear to my heart.”

“We don’t have a financial goal per se, but anything will help,” Cooper said.

He said that checks can be made out to STEPS, Inc. He said they would also be collecting food donations as well.

“All that are interested in participating are welcome to come out, even if they just want to spend a short amount of time outside with us,” Cooper said.