Download the Community Invitation Letter (PDF)

An Invitation to Our Chico Community

Chico Campout for Compassion 2026
Saturday, November 14, 2026
One Night. Many Locations. One Community.

Hello,

I’m reaching out personally to invite your organization to participate in something I believe could bring our community a little closer together.

Chico Campout for Compassion 2026 is a one-night, communitywide educational awareness event inspired by Covenant House’s Sleep Out campaign.

The idea is simple … invite churches, youth groups, schools, service clubs, families, individuals, and other community organizations to spend one night outside, each at their own approved location, in support of our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

Each participating group would organize its own gathering, which might include guest speakers who have experienced homelessness, age-appropriate educational activities, videos, discussions, or simply an opportunity to reflect on the challenges of living without a home.

This is not a fundraising campaign. Groups may choose to collect food or basic necessities for existing local programs, but our primary goal is awareness, understanding, and compassion.

I’m especially interested in bringing people together from different backgrounds and perspectives. We don’t have to agree on every aspect of homelessness to recognize that we all want cleaner, safer parks and waterways, a return to a sense of normalcy in our community, and meaningful solutions that respect the dignity of everyone involved.

We all want our public spaces back … and we all want our neighbors to have a safe place to call home. These goals don’t have to be in conflict.

Participation is entirely voluntary, and our educational resources are recommendations, not requirements. Groups unable to host an overnight campout are still encouraged to participate through an evening discussion or other awareness activity.

We’re not here to tell anyone what to think or how it should be done … we want to start conversations. Different views, questions, and countering material are welcome.

I’m asking community leaders like yourself to consider hosting a gathering, encouraging your members to participate, or simply helping us spread the word.

I’d welcome the opportunity to meet with you, explain the idea, and hear your thoughts.

Thank you for considering being part of this community effort!

Scotty Franzyshen
Organizer … Chico Campout for Compassion 2026
scotty@sfranzyshen.org
www.sfranzyshen.org/campout/