School supplies needed for homeless students in Washtenaw County
While families are shopping and taking advantage of back to school savings, employees at The Education Project, based within the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, or WISD, hope families will think about the many homeless students in the county who also need school supplies.
"We especially need backpacks," said Peri Stone-Palmquist, program manager for the project, which helps homeless youth. "Sturdy backpacks are best, and kids love the ones with characters on them. We also need colored pencils and markers, calculators, Scientific if possible, as well as zippered pencil pouches and pencil sharpeners."
Stone-Palmquist said new packages of socks and underwear and toiletries like toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and travel-sized shampoo also are needed because supplies at their headquarters are running low.
From now through Aug. 26, the community can donate school supplies at local United Bank and Trust branches, SOS Community Services at 101 S. Huron St., in Ypsilanti, the Salvation Army at 100 Arbana Dr., in Ann Arbor, and at the Ozone House at 1705 Washtenaw Ave., in Ann Arbor. Donations can be made year-round near the front desk of the Teaching and Learning Center at the WISD, 1819 Wagner Road, in Ann Arbor.
During the 2011-2012 school year, close to 1,300 children and youth in Washtenaw County experienced a homeless or temporary living situation, a 40 percent increase from the year before. The program is grant-funded and helps homeless students from all 10 school districts and public school academies in the county enroll, attend and succeed in school.
Stone-Palmquist attributes the increased number of homeless youth in Washtenaw County to higher rates of poverty, housing costs, and unemployment.
"The face of who we're working with is very diverse," she said. "It makes these students feel more a part of the school experience if they have the supplies. It allows them to do the work they need to do where ever they are staying at the time."
More information about The Education Project can be found here. Anyone with questions about housing needs can call Housing Access for Washtenaw County at 734-961-1999.
Comments
AWUC
Wed, Aug 8, 2012 : 1:37 a.m.
Hi Lisa, Ypsi Free Methodist Church will also be giving away 250 backpacks at a back to school bash in their parking lot on Saturday, August 18th from 11-1. Located across the street from Estabrook Elementary.
Linda Peck
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.
This is a great article! Thanks annarbor.com! I will find a place to stop in with some supplies.
clownfish
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:55 p.m.
Interesting, the moderators allow postings about other homeless people that accuse those people of drug addiction, laziness, a lack of basic morality, theft etc, but does not allow comments addressing that in this story.
Epengar
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 1:39 p.m.
The link to the Project's web page in the story is broken, looks like it was entered wrong. Here it is: http://wash.k12.mi.us/instruction/ephy.php Lots of information there on the services provided, what students are eligible, and how to get help.
Chigrad
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 1:36 p.m.
I certainly support homeless assist organizations and have even served on the board of a homeless shelter in the past. What I wonder is why are donations being asked/the non-profits funds being used for something that the government (local educational authority) is REQUIRED to provide to homeless students under the McKinney-Vento Act? School supplies, tutoring, uniforms, transportation, after school...the list goes on are paid for an provided by grants to states. Did Washtenaw not apply for funds? Then this should not fall on non-profits and citizens but back on the government to address.
LAEL
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 6:08 p.m.
The article does say "The program is grant-funded", but you can look at their website, which says: "We are funded primarily through the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, reauthorized in January of 2002. The Act guarantees that students who are homeless have equal access to the same free and appropriate public education provided to others. We also rely on private donations and grants to directly meet student needs." In other words, sounds like the Act doesn't provide enough funds to cover all expenses.
Billy
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.
You know I wonder if this organization has ever considered garage sale hunting? The stuff they're looking for can be found at garage sales for CHEAP. Even more so, I wonder if it could be a tax write off?
Mick52
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 4:27 p.m.
I think garage sale searches would be very time consuming and too hit or miss. I was thinking a good source might be asking parents, via take home mail in the spring before school lets out to recycle a book bag or backpack if they might be buying a new one for next year.
tom swift jr.
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 1:16 p.m.
I suspect that donations could be considered a tax write-off. The problem with garage sales is that the organization operates with a VERY limited staff, they really don't have time to do this AND serve the kids they work with.
tom swift jr.
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:06 p.m.
The Education Project for Homeless Youth has been a critical resource for homeless children and families for many years now. Frequently when a family becomes homeless it becomes difficult, for a number of reasons to maintain enrollment in a public school, the EPHY has broken down barriers that allow these young people to continue their education with a minimum of disruption. EPHY operates on a very limited budget, and the need for services increases every year. I encourage everyone to support this effort. And, thanks to Peri and her staff for their efforts and compassion.
Madeleine Borthwick
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 3:30 p.m.
Tom, too right!! unlike some people who can take a positive article like this one and spin it into a negative....
Homeland Conspiracy
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 11:40 a.m.
Where are all the haters? with there slogans like "they want to be homeless" or "let them eat cake"
salinemom2712
Tue, Aug 7, 2012 : 2:17 a.m.
Who is going to hate the innocent children of this increasing epidemic of homeless families? Even though I have my own kids to buy supplies for I will be picking up a few extra things to donate. It's sad to think that there are kids who don't have the supplies to go back to school.
noshopadopt
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 9:21 p.m.
Even "haters" (or those 'not actual haters' who simply disagree with you on other matters) understand that this is about the kids, who have no choice about their situation. And let's each pitch in and buy a new backpack or supplies to give them one bright spot in their lives as they deal with adverse situations.
ferdcom
Mon, Aug 6, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
One hater has posted already.