LaPoma in 2018

Kanebridge Corporation marketing manager Vic LaPoma will be sleeping outside on November 21 in Newark, NJ, to raise awareness and money for homeless youth.

It will be “an attempt to experience what many of our homeless youths experience every night, 12 months a year,” the 40-year fastener veteran said. “They sleep outside in all weather, with no security, no protection, and very little hope that the future will be any different than the present.”

The Sleep Out is sponsored by Covenant House, which has programs in 31 cities in six countries. Covenant House said it has assisted 4,000 youths into “stable housing” and 1,600 into getting jobs. It has provided 720,000 shelter nights. Web: CovenantHouse.org

“It will be uncomfortable, probably cold, but also a wake-up call for me that so many of our young people today live this life every day,” LaPoma said.

The goal for each “Sleeper” is to raise $5,000. Donations credited to LaPoma can be made online: https://www.sleepout.org/participant/22824.

LaPoma slept out in 2018 during a New Jersey snow storm. Instead of the normal 45 minutes, it took him six hours to drive to the Sleep Out through an unexpected snow storm, which immobilized the New York metro area. Temperatures dropped to the 20s.

LaPoma started in the fastener industry in 1979 with Kanebridge. His joined Pacific Warehouse Sales 1982 in California. He started Keg Breakers in Huntington Park, CA in 1984. LaPoma returned to Kanebridge in New Jersey in 1986. Web: Kanebridge.com