For the last several years, the Clarke County School System has served its homeless students through the federally-funded McKinney-Vento Program. While these funds have helped ensure that homeless students receive the same school supplies and other services provided for all students, there are many needs unique to this population that federal dollars won’t fund. For example, homeless students and their families often need clothes, food, personal hygiene items and help with transportation that are difficult to anticipate and plan for and are not on the list of items approved for federal expenditures.
Last year, St. Gregory's Outreach Committee spearheaded a Gift Card Drive to help address these often unmet needs among Clarke County’s homeless students. Thanks to your never-failing generosity, last August, we contributed 230 Walmart gift cards, totaling $4,420 in value, to this program. According to Ms. Chrystal Gillis, Director of Social Work for the Clarke County School District, “These cards were instrumental in supporting 20 unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness by providing access to food, clothing, hygiene, and other necessities. This subgroup of youth is at greater risk because they are experiencing homelessness while not being in the physical custody of a parent/guardian.”
Not surprisingly, the School District has asked for our help again this year. Specifically, we are again seeking donations from our parishioners of $10 and $20 Walmart gift cards. In addition, this year, the Homeless Program has also identified the need for Uber and Lyft gift cards to help some of the students with transportation to and from work. We will collect all gift cards beginning July 19 through Friday, August 14. Please donate only $10 and $20 Walmart cards. Uber and Lyft cards in any denomination are welcome and may be purchased from Target, Best Buy, CVS and other stores that sell gift cards. IN ALL CASES, PLEASE CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE VALUE(S) OF THE CARDS YOU ARE DONATING.
You may hand your donations to Gail Eilers on Sunday mornings through August 9 or leave them with Kendall, our Parish Administrator, through Friday, August 14. If you have any questions, please contact Gail at eilersgail@gmail.com or 904-333-8996. Thank you, in advance, for your amazing generosity.