"Be the change you wish to see in the world", Ghandi. A quote that says so much. This is one of the many important teaching areas for the children at Homeless Families Foundation's Dawd Center. As you know we knit, crochet, loom, and quilt hats, scarves, mittens, slippers, cotton washcloths. Homeless Families Foundation is one of the 3 family shelters we donate to, and also where we donate all our afghans.
This is more then a family shelter providing safe haven for a few nights here and there to those without a roof over their heads. Homeless Families Foundation provides physical lodging, assist with job training and job search, assist with placement into permanent housing and start up kits during the transition from shelter living to permanent housing. Throughout this process there's a focus on getting the family back up and running, to keep the family together, and helping the kids with school.
HFF (Homeless Families Foundation), makes sure kids get to and from school. After school they are picked up brought back to the center and given a nice hot meal here at the center. Then homework and other school related functions can take place. It's hard for kids not knowing where they'll be sleeping day after day, or when the next meal will be to focus on education.......and yet education is the key. Thankfully HFF works on feeding and helping the kids in a safe environment.
There's a fabulous art area in addition to the music area you saw above. Reaching kids through creative endeavors is very important.
And of course there's a library. Being able to get help with reading is vital for many of these children.
What child wouldn't want to sit in an Ape chair to read?
Or sour like an Eagle in the Eagle chair? And while the kids are getting much needed help, their parents can focus on job training and job search and where the family will be living next. Far easier for them to focus on those important items when they know their children are being well cared for. Most of the children in a homeless situation are behind grade level, so this educational component is truly critical.
Bright cheery art work, that the children have made in the summer programs can be found everywhere in the Homeless Families Foundation and Dawd Centers new facility.
Some of the offices still have boxes as the organizational process continues, but the wonderful staff at Homeless Families Foundation forged ahead to get things read for the kids.
I was thrilled to visit the new center and get a tour from our good friend Karie Gallegos the other day.
Please know each and every item you make is so greatly appreciate by those that receive them.
The work we do is important, and is does make a difference. An important difference in the lives of many children and their families.
Here's the Homeless
Families Foundations Facebook and
Websites.
And if you've not yet joined
Bridge and Beyond's Facebook page, please do.
All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.
