BEDFORD – Going back to school can be challenging for kids, even in stable households, and for a child experiencing uncertainty due to homelessness, it can be terrifying.
When the varied needs of homeless children go unmet, their progression often lags behind that of their peers. Becky’s Place seeks to provide help and create hope for homeless women and children by providing safe shelter and essential needs.
An example that comes to mind was a young girl we will call Abby, who was nervous to begin the school year. After seeing Abby’s behavior drastically change following past transitions, her mother feared the same result after moving into the shelter. But to her mother’s relief, Abby quickly became comfortable at Becky’s Place. Through advocation by her family’s case manager, transportation services and other homeless youth resources were requested from the school to support Abby throughout the school year.
Becky’s Place has provided a safe environment, clean clothes, and a nutritional breakfast for hundreds of children who arrive with only the clothes on their backs. As the school year approaches, they need the support of the community to help hundreds more children stay in school and keep their futures bright.
Ways to help Becky’s Place provide these services include:
- $25 – outfits one child with pants, a shirt, socks, and undergarments for school
- $50 – provides three students bookbags and school supplies for an entire school year
- $100 – offers four students a new pair of shoes for school
- $200 – creates 150 snack packs for children to take with them for after-school functions
