Plymouth Area Teens Sleep Outside for a Month for Charity
Two local teenagers are sleeping outside for a good cause and taking the Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners’ “Sleep Out” tradition to another level.
The Sleep Out is an annual fundraiser held by IOCP, a nonprofit based in Plymouth. It supports people in a number of ways, with things like housing, child care and employment assistance.
Landon Koster and Myles Castleberry, both high school juniors at Providence Academy and Osseo Senior High School, are taking on that challenge. Typically– people do it for one night. But these two, with scouting backgrounds, took it a step further.
“It’s kind of interesting. A little nostalgic,” said Koster, who met Castleberry back in second-grade Boy Scouts, where they took many camping trips.
Koster took on the idea from his troop leader, who told them about a scout who slept outside for many days to raise awareness for homelessness with IOCP. That scout was Collin Verbick, who passed away last June.
When Koster’s troop leader asked who was up for the challenge to continue Collin’s legacy, he rose to the occasion.
Landon and Myles stand outside Landon’s tent at his house in Plymouth.
A Greater Goal
In 2023, Koster said he raised $10,000 in just over two weeks sleeping outside. The boys go to the same church in Plymouth. There, Castleberry told Koster he wanted to join the mission with an even bigger goal.
“When I said: ‘Let’s raise 25k instead of 10k,’ Landon’s eyes went ‘What?! What??” Castleberry recalled.
The two began sleeping out in tents in each of their yards on Nov. 3. As of Dec. 9, they’re still outside.
“I’d say it does take a bit of craziness to sleep out here for at least a month now, which we’ve been doing,” Castleberry said.
That’s right — a month. Their goal is to sleep outside until they raise a full $25,000. The journey is well-documented on Instagram @iocpsleepout, where the two of them post stories and updates about their tenting experience.
Their tents are simple and stay out whatever the weather.
“I have a pillow, a pad, sometimes I’ll bring a blanket if it’s really, really cold,” Koster said. “This is pretty much the setup every night.”
“On the really windy day the other day, my face was completely frozen. When I woke up I had to separate my eyelashes from my eyes,” Castleberry said.
A Visible Difference
IOCP Executive Director Kevin Ward said the boys’ persistence is powerful to raise awareness for suburban housing insecurity.
“Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean that it’s not present, alive and well in the suburbs. So it’s a reminder that there are families out there that are struggling,” Ward said. “And it’s actually something physical that the community can do. To some way, somehow get an understanding of what it’s like being unhoused and not having anywhere to sleep.”
The Sleep Out Fundraiser benefits IOCP and its efforts to keep people in stable housing situations.
IOCP leaders say that Landon and Myles’ goal is enough to help provide five families with a year’s worth of support and services or to help prevent eviction for 13 area families.
It’s also a powerful opportunity for empathy for everyone involved, donors and sleepers alike.
“I’m very grateful, because I can come inside in the morning, and eat my breakfast inside and warm up before school,” Koster said. “I know a lot of people don’t have that privilege.”
As the nights get colder, the pair are persisting for neighbors who might not be so lucky.
“You get gratitude and understanding. A little more empathetic,” Koster said.
You can learn more and donate to Landon and Myles’ cause on their GoFundMe or Landon’s Venmo with the note “IOCP.” As of Dec. 6, the boys raised $20,000 of their $25,000. They plan to sleep outside until they reach that goal.
At IOCP, the Sleep Out fundraiser goes through Dec. 31. If you’d like to do your own Sleep Out or learn more, IOCP’s website has details.
Providence Academy
