StM News

One St. Martin’s seniors spent a night helping raise awareness and funds to support youth who are unhoused by participating in the 2023 Covenant House Sleep Out. His support is one way St. Martin’s students live out the mission of our school “to prepare students to thrive in college and in life through Faith, Scholarship, and Service.”

Cole Mathas ’24 and his mother, Kellie, both participated in the event. Cole said the sleep out was a meaningful way for him to help other youths. 

“Living in New Orleans, I've always seen the effects of homelessness on our community,” said Cole. “I've wanted to help those in need for a long time, but I never really knew a way to assist them in a meaningful way. When I was first introduced to Covenant House and the Sleep Out event, I knew that it was the perfect opportunity to help.”

Covenant House offers safe shelter, nourishing food, clean clothing, and essential services like job training, education, healthcare, and mental health counseling for youth in need at no cost to them. Sleep Out teams helped raise funds to make these services possible. 

The Mathas family said they exceeded their fundraising goal, generating more than $850 for Covenant House, and expressed their gratitude to the St. Martin’s families that supported their sleep out.  

At the Sleep Out, Cole said meeting Covenant House residents and listening to them share their journeys helped open his eyes to their experiences.

“Hearing the stories of people who have experienced living without a home and who came out stronger with the help of the Covenant House gave me hope that we can make a difference in the lives of the impoverished,” said Cole. “Homelessness can happen to anybody at any time so it is important to support organizations like Covenant House that help save the lives of people in our community every day.”