Macon's Daybreak Center raises more than $68,000 to help homeless

The Daybreak Center raised $68,598.05 from its annual "Sleep Out" event in February to help Macon's homeless population, the Macon nonprofit announced Tuesday afternoon.

The center provides the homeless with a safe place to rest, laundry facilities, education and health treatment among other services.

Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell, honorary chairman of the annual event, attended Tuesday's announcement but unable to take part in the sleep out because he was touring in South America at the time.

After a tour of the facility, Leavell said he was impressed.

"It's such a beautiful facility, and it's working so well," Leavell said before playing a short tune on the center's piano. "I'm really proud of the way that Macon is really addressing this (homelessness) problem. ... It exists almost everywhere, and we can all do something about it."

Next year's "Sleep Out" is set for Feb. 23, Leavell said.

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 and follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 6:43 PM with the headline "Macon's Daybreak Center raises more than $68,000 to help homeless ."