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.
Tags: Apple Fest, homeless kids, homelessness, Homelessness Bites, Indianapolis Public Schools, Indianapolis Star, Indy School on Wheels, Salvation Army, Women's and Children's Shelter
Bite Back!, get involved | Kristen | 
July 29, 2010 11:10 am | 
Comments (0)
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. Add to that stress that many of the children from this morning’s shop are residents at our shelter or come from single-parent families with that parent working to support the family and also receiving assistance from the Army such as help with groceries and utility expenses.
Mrs. Lewis, who is now 94 years old, has provided shoes for children through The Salvation Army for five years. Mrs. Lewis grew up as an orphan, never having the luxury of new shoes for school. After enjoying a prosperous life together with her husband she wanted to give back to kids who may be less fortunate. Kalvin Henderson, proud recipient of Mrs. Lewis’ gift said, “I think she’s real nice and someone should be doing something nice for her too. I’d have to save my money for a long time to get shoes like this.”
Jo Ann Remender, Planned Giving Director for The Salvation Army says, “It’s not just meeting a physical need for these kids, it’s meeting an emotional need too. It’s preparing them for that first day of school, so they feel like they have all the necessary tools they need to be successful.”
Each of us has the means to make a difference in our community, to ‘Bite Back’ by giving of our time and resources. If you’re interested in helping your neighbors in need through The Salvation Army, give Kristen a call at 224-1019.
Yesterday, after putting in a long night on the truck in Broad Ripple, the West Coast Tacos guys made their way downtown to serve dinner at our Women’s and Children’s Shelter. The guys, proudly wearing their Homelessness Bites tees, served up about 200 of their authentic LA-style tacos to the ladies and children at our shelter as well as some folks who lined up in the alley.
We’d like to thank West Coast Tacos for “doing the most good” and giving of their time and tacos to make it a special night for families who’ve been through a lot. And we can’t forget the generosity of the folks at TKO Graphix (they’re the ones who logo’d up the taco guys’ truck) who presented a collection for the cause and will help make it possible for this kind of event to happen again in the future. Thanks, everyone!
We know you believe in our cause – to end homelessness for Indy’s moms and kids - and now you know that West Coast Tacos and TKO Graphix do, too. So, check them both out on facebook. Find out where the guys will be serving up tacos next and sample for yourself. You’ll be glad you did!
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’!
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…
We’re thrilled to be working with Emmis Communications as our promotional partner for this year’s Apple Fest on Monument Circle. It’s a perfect fit since we’re planning to “Eat in the Street for homeless kids” right in their front yard! All four Emmis stations – WIBC 93.1fm, B105.7fm, Hank 97.1fm and ESPN 1070 The Fan will be teaming up with us to spread the word about this lunchtime event on Thursday, October 7.
Mark your calendar to join us for freshly grilled food and warm apple cobbler. There’s lots to see and do at this event, so stay tuned for the details. And go here to find out how you can get involved this summer even before the first lunch-goer is served.
Interested in participating in the event as a booth sponsor? Call Kristen at 224-1019.
Tags: 1070 the Fan, Apple Fest, B105.7, Emmis Communications, Hank FM, Homelessness Bites, Monument Circle, Salvation Army, WIBC
Events, parnterships | Kristen | June 29, 2010 11:11 am | Comments (0)
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).
A recent study found that there is about $99 in spare change in each household in America. You know, the coins you leave in your jeans that ends up on the laundry room floor or in the couch cushions. Oh, and don’t forget the cup holders in the car or that dish on the dresser that you toss pennies into. Why not gather the spare change in your home for someone who has no home?
That’s how our ‘bite back’ box campaign started and how we got Mel McMahon involved. We wanted to give people like you an easy way to gather up those coins (and even dollars, too) and put that forgotten cash to good use. Your nickles, dimes and quarters will mingle with your co-workers’ and neighbors’ change and pretty soon, with enough help from our friends, we’ll turn those coins into a safe place to stay, education and a fresh start for moms and kids in need.
We pass out boxes at all of our events – like last week’s ‘Eat Outside the Box’ picnic at Veteran’s Memorial Plaza (they were in your lunch bags and on the tables). All you have to do is set it on your desk, your dresser or even the kitchen counter and fill it with your generosity. It’s a great way to get the kids involved with ‘doing the most good’, too!
And when it’s filled, you can return it to any central Indiana Salvation Army location, Two Men and a Truck location or any of our events – like Apple Fest on Monument Circle this October. We’ll gladly give it back for a refill, or use it to help someone else bite back. And there’s always a little incentive for returning boxes to events – at Apple Fest, we’re offering a FREE apple cobbler. Wahoo!
So, find that box or give Kristen a call at 224-1019 to get one. It’s an easy way to make a difference in the lives of Indy’s homeless moms and kids. Homelessness Bites. Bite Back!
In case you haven’t heard, we’re celebrating our 56th annual National Salvation Army Week this May 10-16, and we’ve got some fun events planned. We’ll be sure to tell you more about them soon, but this is where we talk about homelessness in our city. So we’ll start there…at the big finish!
We’re wrapping up the week by having a picnic with a purpose. Join us on Friday, May 14 (10am-2pm) at Veteran’s Memorial Plaza for our 2nd annual ‘Eat Outside the Box’ picnic to end homelessness. We had a really great turnout last year and we’re hoping to continue to spread the word about our Homelessness Bites campaign. You can join the cause in two ways:
1. Become a booth sponsor – A great location and about 400 picnic-goers means prime exposure for our partnering non-profits and businesses. Partnership is super affordable – booth space is just $50! You’re welcome to have displays, giveways and even sell non-food items and you keep the profits! Interested? Call Kristen at 224-1019 and reserve your space today to get in on early promotions.
2. Come out for lunch and take a bite out of homelessness! The central location at Meridian & Michigan is super convenient for the employees of dozens of downtown businesses to just walk over and join us. All-American Picnic Company will be grilling hamburgers in addition to hotdogs. And we’re thrilled to have live music from BandWagon again this year! Lunch and tunes beats leftovers at your desk, right?
The 1,500 kids who spend their nights on the streets of Indy think Homelessness Bites. Do you? We hope you’ll help us Bite Back.
Running late from work and need the number for the local pizza delivery? During a chat with friends at the coffee shop, you decide that a movie’s a good plan – do you know what’s playing? Working on a little spring cleaning this weekend and need a place to take donations? ChaCha’s got your back…and now you can use ChaCha to ‘Bite Back’ too.
Starting April 16, when you call in (1-800-2ChaCha) or text a question to ChaCha (242242), you’ll probably see a message about how you can help the thousands of Hoosiers who spend their nights on Indy’s streets. The Salvation Army, in partnership with ChaCha, is helping you stay connected to those in need with the new Homelessness Bites Mobile VIP List. Text HBITES to 242242 to join the list and learn how you can make a difference in the lives of homeless and abused women and children right here in Indy.
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