How 9-Year-Old Marlon Took Action with Ritter Center’s Sleepout Challenge

What do you do when your child can’t sleep at night—not because of bad dreams or too much screen time, but because they’re worried about people living on the streets? That’s the question one local mom in our community found herself grappling with. Her 9-year-old son, Marlon, had grown increasingly concerned about our unhoused neighbors. He worried not just about their safety or shelter, but about something even more profound: “Do they get any love?”

That question—so simple and powerful—sparked something bigger.

To help Marlon channel his concern into meaningful action, his mom signed their family up for Ritter Center’s Sleepout Challenge—an event where people across our community give up the comfort of their beds for one night to raise awareness and funds for those experiencing homelessness in Marin County.

For Marlon, this wasn’t just a symbolic gesture. It was personal. He invited friends and family to camp out in their own yards and created a team to amplify their efforts. And he didn’t stop there—of the $100 he had to his name, Marlon gave $40 to support the cause.

“Can you match his donation?” his mom asked.

One moment that stuck with Marlon happened while driving past a local encampment. He saw a dirty stuffed animal lying outside on the ground. At first, he thought it had been discarded by a child. But then, in that quiet, thoughtful way that kids sometimes surprise us, he realized the truth: That stuffed animal likely belongs to an adult—and it might be the only thing they have that brings them comfort.

Later, Marlon confided that he wished he were a famous soccer player like Messi, so he could help people on a bigger scale. His mom reminded him—and all of us—that you don’t have to be famous or rich to make a difference. You don’t have to wait until everything is perfect. Regular people can help, and they can do it now.

Marlon’s story is a reminder of the power we each hold to create change in our community. It starts with empathy. It grows with action. And it inspires others to do the same.

If you’d like to support Marlon’s team or start your own Sleepout Challenge, there’s still time. Join us in showing that everyone deserves love—and that anyone can be the one to give it.