When Covenant House Toronto launched the first Sleep Out: Women Unite event three years ago, Taya Day would hear stories from her friends about how inspiring it was to them.
Feeling motivated, Day recruited some colleagues and slept out for the first time last year. Through hard work and determination, Day earned the title of top individual fundraiser in 2018, and her team, Hazelton Real Estate, was the top group fundraiser.
This year, she will repeat the experience: “I was so amazed at how the programs and supports at Covenant House really help youth get back on their feet that I had to sleep out for a second time.”
By day, Day works as a real estate broker at an agency in the Yorkville area of downtown Toronto. However, things did not always come easy. From a very young age, she realized she could only depend on herself: “I have been on my own for a very long time and I know how hard things can be when you have very little guidance.”
Since then, Day has made it a mission to give back, “I feel very lucky that my life turned out the way it did and want to help make a difference in the lives of youth in need.”
What surprised her the most about her first sleep out was learning about the harsh realities homeless youth in Toronto experience and the positive effect that sleep and shelter can have on their lives.
“Even with all of the work Covenant House does to make everyone feel safe, it is next to impossible for everyone to get a decent sleep on the streets,” Day remarks. “Without shelter and proper sleep, being able to function properly or getting a job is not an option.”
On May 24, join Day and over 70 women at #WomenSleepOutTO to raise funds and sleep outside in support of youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk.
Sleep Out: Women Unite is an experiential event that demonstrates the power of women to make change, while providing tangible insights on the issue of youth homelessness. Corporate professionals, entrepreneurs, community activists and philanthropists who have a passion for social justice are among the attendees. To learn more, visit: www.womensleepout.ca