Fourteen percent of Utah’s homeless population consists of families with children. These homeless children struggle to remain in school and rarely have the necessary educational supplies needed to be successful in school. The Salt Lake Community College Delta Epsilon Chi (DEX) Chapter, in partnership with Family Promise, has taken on the challenge of collecting school supplies for these needy children. The DEX Chapter’s goal is to provide at least 50 children with backpacks filled with necessary school supplies by March 29. You can help by donating school supplies, such as; gently used backpacks or school bags, pens, pencils, rulers, compass or protractor, crayons, erasers, notebooks, and paper. You may drop off your donations at DEX/Family Promise bins located in the Business Building, Technology Building or the Student Center at Taylorsville Redwood Campus. You can be the hero these children need to be successful. Family Promise coordinates with the Interfaith Hospitality Network to help families regain their housing, independence, and dignity in these trying times. Many of these temporary displacements are due to loss of work by one or both of the parents, injuries, and from families forced from homes due to foreclosures, fires, or other natural disasters.
In this economy, many renters and home owners are one paycheck away from being homeless. The vast majority of families experience homelessness for a relatively short period of time and in this short time, we should all work to ensure the children are getting the necessary resources to continue to get the education they need. Family Promise currently operates a network of affiliates in 39 states and the District of Columbia, mobilizing community resources. Various religious congregations provide lodging in their churches and their members serve as volunteers. Social service agencies provide assessments, referrals, and facilities for day programs. Family Promise responds every year to over 600,000 families with 1.5 million children experiencing homelessness. These parents and children comprise over 50 percent of the homeless population.
EJ Reyes is a DEX Member.