Rocking for kids’ funds

The number of homeless teens across the country is rapidly multiplying, with 16,000 children reported in 2008 in Orange County alone. These kids who have drifted from their families for one reason or another are often hungry, cold, lonely, abused, sick, lost or afraid, and in need of help.

A benefit called “Homeless Rock-A-Thon” will be at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church from 7 p.m. Saturday through noon Sunday to raise funds and awareness for at-risk youth and teenage homelessness in the community.

It’s not what it sounds like. The event is not a battle of the rock bands — in this case the “rock” refers to rocking chairs and the kids who signed up for it get sponsors for how many hours they rock.

The event will be co-sponsored by the Church and StandUp For Kids organization, which is dedicated to preventing teenage homelessness and gives a voice to the nameless and faceless teens who would otherwise be forgotten across America.

Pat Krebs, a youth minister at the church whose volunteer group helped organize the event, said the goal is to help people understand what a tremendous problem youth homelessness has become and to solicit help.

“There are homeless teenagers in our own backyard, and we need to raise awareness and prevent this from happening to more kids,” she said. “The numbers are getting worse every day.”

The sleepless event will have round-the-clock music, as well as movies, games, food and beverages and presentations to raise awareness about this growing problem.

Krebs said all of the proceeds will benefit StandUp For Kids, since all activities and refreshments have been donated by volunteers, who will also collect pledges and donations during the Rock-A-Thon.

Iahana Heinz, a volunteer with StandUp For Kids, said her organization hopes to accomplish a great deal through the event.

“We hope that through education and discussion, kids will [better] understand the dangers of being homeless,” she said. “We encourage them to talk through issues with their parents, so that they stay at home and off the street.”

Heinz said her group also explains telltale signs of homelessness and encourages compassion among youth.

“We tell them things like if a child asks you for food at school, it doesn’t mean they are bullying you, it might just mean they’re hungry,” she said.

The event came about when Krebs’ youth group chose StandUp For Kids as their annual charity project. Her volunteers in the past have worked with groups like the Lost Boys of Africa, American Red Cross and the Child Abuse and Neglect Council.

StandUp For Kids has collaborated with many groups like Krebs’ in the past to help better the future of homeless teens, including an MTV-style “Money X Live” event last February, in which financial advisors and celebrities like Christina Milan spoke to kids about financial independence and success.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Homeless Rock-A-Thon

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday to noon Sunday

WHERE: Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, 2046 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach

INFO: Free admission, but donations welcome. Call (949) 644-0200 for more information.