Middle school students hold clothing drive for homeless
Volunteers needed for Homeless Point-In-Time Count 2016
Murrieta- One day while riding the bus to Shivela Middle School a student saw what appeared to be a homeless person shivering in the cold weather. That prompted the 13 year old student to suggest holding a clothing drive at the school. For the month of October classmates held a Sock-tober, collecting new warm socks, clothing and blankets to donate during the winter months.
“We thought this would be the most helpful for people who don’t always get thought of often enough, especially during the recent holiday months,” said teacher Sara Hogan. Hogan is the AVID teacher at Shivela and has encouraged students to give back to the community in many ways.
Each year students collect a different item which is then donated to various non –profit organizations such as homeless shelters. 50 donation boxes were set up in classrooms across the middle school campus where students could donate warm clothing, toiletries and other items the homeless may need.
Hogan said “warm clothing is something homeless people in Riverside County could use and appreciate during the cold winter months.”
The donation comes just as the 2016 Riverside County Homeless Point-In-Time Count is about to occur. Each year as many as 500 volunteers are needed to count and survey homeless persons living on the streets in the 28 cities throughout Riverside County.
The Department of Public Social Services will partner with the Riverside County Continuum of Care to conduct the one-day survey on Tuesday, January 26, 2016. The PIT Count is federally-mandated by the U.S. department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The one-day count and survey is required to determine the region’s need for homeless services and guide in decision making about how to use available resources. Important data will be collected on the general homeless population and subpopulations of homeless Veterans, families, youth and chronically homeless individuals.
Organizations or individuals may register online at: www.RiversideHomelessCounts.com
