Indy homeless students up by 26%, Salvation Army offers help

Today’s Indy Star reports that IPS has seen a 26% increase in the homeless students. The article is pretty sobering – Indiana is tied for 27th in the nation for homeless enrollment – nearly 10,000 students.

Our state has certainly felt the brunt of the economic downturn. And the trend continues in 2010 as unemployment hovers in the 10 percent range. About 43 percent of homeless schoolchildren in IPS are in kindergarten through third grade! These kids have difficulties concentrating, not knowing where they’ll sleep or where dinner will come from. In fact, these students are suspended from school at a rate of about twice the state average!

But thanks to our supporters, The Salvation Army’s Women’s and Children’s Shelter* can offer these kids some stability. Kids who stay in our shelter can count on healthy meals, warm beds and even homework help from our partners at Indy School on Wheels. The shelter isn’t a permanent solution – our counselors work with moms to get help with life skills, school or job placement and all the other resources they will need to break the cycle of joblessness, domestic violence and homelessness.

You can help us continue to provide these services to our littlest neighbors in need through the Homelessness Bites campaign. Find out how to get and fill a Bite Back box, donate online, sign up for our mobile VIP list or mark your calendar now for Apple Fest this October. For 1,500 kids in Indianapolis, homelessness bites. Bite back!

*nearly 1,100 women & children have been cared for in our shelter in 2010. Of the 204 who came to us in June, 76 were kids.

Mrs. Lewis, Shoe Carnival help kids in need get ready for school

This morning, thanks to Mrs. Lewis and the team at the Lafayette Road Shoe Carnival, nearly 120 kids from The Salvation Army’s Summer Day Camp programs in Indy got the tools they’ll need to start school on the right foot.

According to Huntington Bank’s 2010 Backpack Index, the average cost for a family to send a child to elementary school (with all the school recommended supplies and necessary clothing) is about $475. With the first days of school quickly approaching, parents are no doubt feeling the pressure of providing new shoes, back packs and school supplies. But, thanks to the generosity of long time Salvation Army donor, Mrs. Laura Lewis, 120 children are set to go.

Indians’ Clement pays day campers a visit

This past Friday, Jeff Clement, spent the morning hanging out with the kids at The Salvation Army’s Eagle Creek Community Center.  “Today was a great opportunity to come down to The Salvation Army and spend time with these kids.  It’s more fun, than anything because I’m just a big kid myself,” said Clement, first baseman for the Indianapolis Indians.

The kids are all part of The Salvation Army’s Summer Food Program, which provides nutritional meals for at-risk youth in the Eagle Creek area.  “For some of the kids here, this is the only full meal they get during the day,” said Captain Leti Crowell, Corps Officer for The Salvation Army Eagle Creek.  The program was started to bridge the gap between school sessions.  Nearly all of the children qualifiy for the Federal School Lunch program and many would go without a quality meal this summer without the help of The Salvation Army.

A big part of the day is organized recreation and when Clement heard about the opportunity to go and play with the kids, he jumped at it.  Read more

TKO’s Randy Clark reflects on serving at shelter

“We’re very fortunate, aren’t we?”

Ever feel that way? Well, after spending just a few hours at our Women’s and Children’s Shelter, Randy Clark does. You see, Randy came down to the Shelter on Sunday to help serve tacos with the guys from West Coast Tacos. Randy’s company, TKO Graphix, helped the WCT guys get started here in Indy by doing the art for their taco truck. When they heard about their plans to serve at the shelter, TKO took up a collection to help WCT cover their costs associated with serving.

Randy and Nancy (and their spouses) came down to present the guys with that cash (about $300) and to give to others. They ended up receiving much more – turns out that happens quite often when you serve. I could tell you all about his experience, but it’s better to read it in his own words on his blog.

So, what motivates you to give? Why do you give to The Salvation Army? To learn more about how to ‘Bite Back’, visit HomelessnessBites.org or give Kristen a call at 224-1019.

Happy campers…thanks to you!

Summer is drawing to a close, but Hidden Falls Camp is in full swing this week with music camp. Your donations, especially those of you who supported our kids programs on the Saturday of Radiothon, make it possible for hundreds of Indiana’s youth to attend our camp near Bedford, IN. Our youth directors, Captains Nick and Jody Montgomery and their right hand gal, Deena Best, have created a great, character-building environment for these kids to get away from the pavement and into the great outdoors. And the best part is that the camp is available to all through our community centers, our Corps.

Can’t wait to hear more from camp? Stay tuned for some stories of kids whose lives have been changed through your generosity!

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