WASHINGTON TWP. -- Two-thousand, one hundred seven tents.

That's enough tents to put any sporting goods store out of stock. It's also the amount of tents you'd need to represent every homeless child in New Jersey, according to last year's Point-In-Time Count of the homeless.

Under dense, grey skies, Bundled up in hoodies on a crisp Friday night, 36 student council members set up camp to hold its first Sleep Away event, braving the rain and chilly temperatures until morning.

"Over 2,000 kids were reported homeless [in New Jersey] in 2016. That's close to our school population. Imagine if everyone in the school was homeless -- that's what our surrounding areas are dealing with," said Jessica Hatch, a junior and Student Council Executive Board member who planned the event.

The students spent the night on the field, accepting donations from 5 p.m. to midnight, before heading to their sleeping bags. The student council raised about $1,500 in donations for the school's pantry -- which is open to anyone who needs it -- and the Covenant House, a national organization dedicated to helping homeless youth.

The drive also collected basic necessities including clothing, toiletries, bottled water and non-perishable food.

Hatch wanted to start the school year with an exciting event to give back to those in need and draw attention to "an epidemic that is often overlooked in the country."

"It's an issue that's near and dear to our hearts. We're all teenagers," said senior Kayla Mackinnon, a student council executive board member.

Youth homelessness is a topic that may surprise township residents, "but it happens anywhere, it happens here," said Mackinnon, as she waterproofed her tent.

The sleep out is "a big awareness event. A lot of people may not realize that kids in the township are struggling or may not have a place to go home to," said WTHS teacher and Student Council Co-Advisor Shannon Molloy, who oversaw the event.

She hopes the event causes students to become more attuned to what may be happening in the student body and sparks kindness toward those who need it.

Students passed the time throwing a football to keep warm. Later, they rehearsed dance moves for spirit week and shared pizza. Once it got dark, some students planned to tell spooky stories under the light of a hand-held lantern to embrace Friday the 13th.

"It's fun. It's the kind of fun you know is making a positive impact and that you want to be involved in," said Student Council Vice President Kylie Fischer.

Standing in front of her "fortress" of a tent as the dark clouds rolled in, Fischer said she wasn't worried about the rain.

"If you're homeless, you don't get shelter," she said.

For information on how to help homeless youth, visit NJ.Covenanthouse.org.