The Catholic Morning Show

Reggie's Sleepout 2026: Building Hope for Iowa's Homeless Youth - Montgomery Carson - 09/18/2026

Episode Summary

Montgomery Carson of Iowa Homeless Youth Centers previews Reggie's Sleepout, a free community event at Drake Stadium on October 9 that raises awareness of youth homelessness in Iowa. She shares the story of Reggie Kelsey, whose death after aging out of foster care led to aftercare services for Iowa youth. Montgomery also explains what participants can expect, from cardboard box-building contests to an overnight sleepout.

Episode Notes

Montgomery Carson, community engagement coordinator for Iowa Homeless Youth Centers (a YSS organization), joins Bo Bonner to preview Reggie's Sleepout on Friday, October 9, at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. The event honors Reggie Kelsey, a young man who aged out of Iowa's foster care system and was later found dead in the Des Moines River. His death led to aftercare services that now support young people leaving foster care.

Montgomery explains why the cause is urgent: more than 750 families in local school districts are currently counted as homeless. She lays out the day:

• Morning: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. is reserved for Des Moines Public Schools students and other area school field trips.
• Afternoon: the event reopens to the public at 2 p.m. for churches, families, organizations, and businesses to build cardboard shelters.
• Supplies: cardboard, duct tape, and scissors are all provided, and builders have made everything from castles to saloon towns.
• Entertainment: the Grandview drumline, bands, a talent show, food trucks, and free snacks.
• Overnight: participants can sleep out with tents and sleeping bags, and overnight pizza is provided.

Register, volunteer, or learn more at ReggiesSleepout.org and YSS.org, or follow Iowa Homeless Youth Centers on Instagram and Facebook.

Heard on the Catholic Morning Show, weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio. More at IowaCatholicRadio.com.

#ReggiesSleepout #YouthHomelessness #IowaHomelessYouthCenters #FosterCare #DrakeStadium #DesMoines #CommunityEvent #CatholicPodcast