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.

The Guys from West Coast Tacos ‘Bite Back’

Our campaign is all about encouraging you to find unique ways to give of who you are and what you do to make a difference in the lives of moms and kids who have found themselves homeless because of the economy or domestic violence. Well, Indy, you’re listening.

The guys from West Coast Tacos are on a mission to bring LA-style tacos to the Hoosier Heartland, and they’re making sure to “do the most good” along the way. Yesterday, we saw an article at indystar.com that featured this start-up company and their growing success using facebook and twitter to grow a fan and customer base here in our city. Well, mouths started to water, so the Homelessness Bites crew decided that we should check them out.

That initial curiosity turned into a great partnership. West Coast Taco was looking for a non-profit to help out and we are that non-profit! Patrick, John and Arnold will be pulling their truck up to our Women and Children’s Shelter next weekend to feed them their afternoon meal. How great is that? These guys are giving of who they are to show these ladies and kids that their community cares about them.

So, check out their facebook page. Even better yet, “like” them and they’ll let you know where their truck will be parking to serve next. And thanks, West Coast Tacos. Way to ‘bite back’!

Salvation Army teams up with Applebee’s as food sponsor for Apple Fest

Since Applebee’s will generously provide the freshly grilled entrees for Apple Fest on 10/7, more of your lunch dollars will help us help Indy’s homeless kids. We’re thrilled to have the opporunity to work with their team to again this Fall to bring you quality food that’s donated for a great cause – our campaign to end homelessness for Indy’s kids.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be working out the details and planning an event that will be worth spending your lunch hour with us. We’re asking you to mark your calendar now for Thursday, October 7 on Monument Circle. All the proceeds from this event will provide shelter, mentoring, tutoring and other programs for kids and their moms who come to our shelter in need of a safe place to stay and fresh start.

Stay tuned for updates…

Are you a VIP?

This summer, in parternship with Cha Cha, we launched our Homelessness Bites VIP Mobile message list, and we’d love for you to join us. In just a couple of months, we’re over 100 members strong and growing.

What is the VIP list? It’s our way of keeping in touch with you through text messages on your mobile phone. We’ll share ways that you can help our mission to end homelessness for the 1,500 kids who spend their nights on Indy’s streets. Find out about upcoming volunteer opportunities to Bite Back. Get reminders about upcoming events.

We won’t flood your phone with messages. We’re sending a message once a week or so to keep in touch. Here’s an example – “For just $3.40 our shelter can feed a homeless mom and child dinner. Talk about a value meal! Fill your box. Give change. HomelessnessBites.org”

How can you join? Just text HBITES to 242242 (ChaCha).

Apple Fest – coming to a station near you!

Not familiar with Apple Fest? Well, here’s the cause – This year 1,500 kids will eat their meals and spend their nights on the streets of Indy. Come out to Monument Circle on October 1 from 10:30am – 1:30pm and Eat in the Street for homeless kids at Apple Fest.

The details for this year’s 6th annual event are coming together. We’re pleased to announce our media partner for this year’s event – Emmis Communications. Now I don’t mention one specific station, because all four of Emmis’ stations will be promoting Apple Fest together. We’re thrilled to be working with the folks from WIBC 93.1fm, ESPN 1070 The Fan, 91.7 HANK fm and B105.7fm! Listen for promotions to start mid-September on-air and via the web.

And, of course, we couldn’t have an event without our food sponsor. Applebee’s is on board to once again bring their tasty, freshly grilled sandwiches and ice cold lemonade to downtown lunchgoers. They generously donate all of their items so we can turn your lunch dollars into a fresh start for homeless moms and their kids.

We’d love it if you’d come out and enjoy lunch for a good cause. And if you want to help us end homelessness in Indy, give Kristen a call at 224-1019 to sponsor a booth. For just $100 ($50 for non-profits) you can show off your wares or services and support our work to give these moms and kids a fresh start.