Homeless Student Paper Angel Closet

By the end of 2014 the Regional Office of Education identified 2,621 students as homeless in Winnebago and Boone Counties.  This is up from 1,648 in 2013 and only 694 in 2011.  We ended the year with 2,228 active homeless students and growing.  We expect to identify at least 3,000 students as homeless this year.

These students need our help.  New Life United Methodist Church has begun to parter with the Regional Office of Education to provide homeless students with basic nessecities.  As part of our ongoing Paper Angel Closet (in partnership with LOVE INC) we have already provided these goods to families in need; but we want to make sure none of our children go without the basics: soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, feminine hygeine products and so much most of us have ready access to.  

We will be collecting items and raising awareness as 2015 continues, but we would like to raise $75,000.00 to make sure no child goes without this year.  For $25.00 we can equip a student with basic personal products.  Do to that for each of the expected 3,000 homeless children in our area we would need $75,000.

Let's work together and dream big. This is just the beginning. There is so much more we can do for these students. As opportunities arise we want to partner with everyone we can; not only to meet their basic needs, but change the systems and conditions which has led to this rapidly growing population.