Our Local Children in Need of Basics
Jamie Kelly of the Missoulian posted on Sunday, November 7, 2010 an article about a big increase in hungry, homeless students.
Across Missoula County AND the state the number of children who rely on school just for food is depressing, growing, getting bigger and brings tears to my eyes. We send aid to other countries, and right off our Front Porch we have a growing crisis since 2007.
Homelessness and hunger have crept into schools where they had never seen the need, they do now.
I believe we can make a difference in this community! Many items can be shoes and clothes that are lightly used, they don’t need to be new. I have included a needs list, that has come from local schools. We are doing outreach to the schools to let them know we think we can help. I am reaching out to you, our community. I think we can ALL help.
Please feel free to contact me personally Judy 329-2017 or Missoula Organization of Realtors (MOR) 728-0560 and we will be glad to take suggestions, answer questions, or work with you in picking up items you may want to donate.
We have a golf tournament on June 23, and all those proceeds will go to this cause….we are calling the cause MOR4Kids. We will periodically put out a “call to action” to request items.
Thank you for joining in to help our own children in crisis. Requested needs lists below:
1. Food to keep on hand for children in need
2. Tennis shoes for gym classes (they do not need to be new)
Sizes 10-adult 7 for elementary schools and size 3-12 for middle schools and high schools
A couple of drives a year would be great (fall and right after Christmas)
Perhaps a drive in the summer so families know they could come in during first week of school. If they could be told in advance, perhaps they could buy food, etc. Leather shoes would stand up over time a little better. Then maybe a second drive mid-year (or after Chistmas when there are good sales).
3. $10.00 gift cards to local grocery stores. Resource specialist at the school can buy the food for the family. Families can only go to food bank one time per month.
4. Belts (do not have to be new!)
Sizes child’s extra small to adult small for elementary schools and adult sizes for middle and high school.
5. Snow boots & winter coats. (maybe available at the beginning of October-February.) Again they do not have to be new.
Gloves are always needed. Knit mittens and gloves don’t keep the hands as warm and get wet. Sturdy goves and mittens are wonderful.
6. Seeley Lake would like 5 backpacks of food for high school age students. Healthy snack food for students after school (tuna, granola, energy bars, individual canned fruits, etc)
7. Gas cards that say “for gas only”.
8. The Title 1 schools are all involved in a program titled RIF (Reading is Fundamental). This is a nationwide grant-funded program that is run almost entirely on volunteers. Each year, our Title 1 schools are able to distribute books to each of their students 3X during the year. Schools are always looking for volunteers to come and read to students during these times. The commitment is usually about 1/2 hour and each school will have its own schedule of times they are distributing.
9. In visiting with the principal at Franklin he said they are in need of about 10 Net Books. They run about $250 each. They are receiving 10, but 10 more will provide enough for a full class to use at a time.
10. Franklin (and probably we will find a couple of other schools) is always in need of food. Franklin has a small pantry to help families out in tight times. She keeps certain kinds of foods on stock such as: cereal, soup, oatmeal, pancake mix, hamburger/chicken/tuna helpers, tuna, canned chicken or turkey, vegetables, after school type snacks for children, juice, etc (kid friendly food).
Some specific school resource requests have come in as well:
1. Boys and girls socks and underwear sizes 5/6, 7/8, and 10/12 (use more smaller sizes)
2. Boys and girls inexpensive sweatpants (Wal-Mart..Hanes) sizes 5/6; 7/8; and 10/12
3. Boys deodorant (some girls, too)
4. School supplies a couple times a year (pencils, crayons, markers, folders, paper, glue, scissors)
5. Educational games and supplies for families (encourage family involvement in education
6. Christmas assistance for families in need (this request has come from several schools)
7. One size fits all mittens/gloves that you can buy for $1.00
8. Provide extra cold weather clothing, mittens, gloves, hats, coats
