LANCASTER, Pa. — One Lancaster community leader is raising awareness for homelessness with a 24-hour sit-in.
Jack Crowley, the president of Water Street Mission (WSM), a nonprofit serving people experiencing financial hardship in Lancaster County, vowed to sit on a bench at 131 S. Prince St. from 3 p.m. on Oct. 9 to 3 p.m. on Oct. 10, World Homeless Day, to spark conversations and answer questions related to homelessness and the services WSM provides.
"I'm sitting on a bench not to emulate or pretend that I'm experiencing what our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness go through every day, but to catch people's attention," Crowley said. "To sit out here and invite people to think about their neighbors who are struggling."
Guests from nonprofits, municipal leaders and county officials all joined Crowley on the bench throughout the 24 hours to talk about the needs of the community and what people can do to help.
Crowley talks about his experience from the bench with FOX43 Morning News in the video above.