Church members camp outside to help the homeless

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - More than a dozen people in Blue Springs, including a 7-year-old, slept outside this weekend to bring awareness to homelessness in the Kansas City metro.

Operation Chillout, a ministry of First Christian Church of Blue Springs, conducted it's 7th annual "Freezin' for a Reason" weekend. Members of the church, located at 701 NW 15th Street, constructed a homeless camp on the front lawn of the church and spent the weekend sleeping outside and collected donations. 

The group received donations of blankets, coats, warm hats, gloves and clothing. The items will be distributed to area agencies that assist people in need .

Bryan Couch is the program director at the church. He said they had 12 campers on Friday night and 10 on Saturday night. Couch said the hardest part of the camp out is dealing with the cold.

It's not so bad when you're inside the sleeping blanket warm at night, but in the morning when you put your coat and boots back on; they're cold," Couch said.

The "Freezin'' for a Reason" camp out ended at 10 a.m. Sunday. It was followed by an outdoor church service.