The Liberty Regional Homeless Coalition has kicked of its 2018 Homeless Student School Clothing Drive with the distribution of its clothing collection containers.
In response to the need of the more than 350 homeless students who receive support from regional school systems, the coalition is asking the public to assist in providing new or slightly used school uniforms. This year’s collection as expanded to help support young children in local Head Start Programs, as well.
Clothing to fit ages 6 months to 12th grade are needed, and the program is also accepting donations of school supplies for pre-K to 12 grade. All materials will be distributed by the schools only.
As provided in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, homeless students are defined as lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, including:
· Sharing the housing of other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship
· Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations
· Living in emergency or transitional shelters
· Are abandoned in hospitals
· Awaiting foster care placement
· Living in public or private places not designed for or ordinarily used as regularly sleeping accommodation for human beings
· Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, transportation stations or similar settings
· Migratory children living in conditions described in the previous examples
A special drop-off event will take place during the Hinesville Farmers Market from 3-7 p.m. July 26. The Farmers Market is located at Bradwell Park on Commerce Street across from Hinesville City Hall.
A sorting event will be held Aug. 4 at Victory Assembly of God, 602 E. Gen. Stewart Way in Hinesville. Volunteers must pre-register to participate.
The following locations will accept donations until July 31: The Heritage Bank, Butler Avenue, Midway;
The Heritage Bank, Main Branch, Main Street, Hinesville; The Heritage Bank, Super Wal-Mart, W. Oglethorpe Hwy.; The Heritage Bank, Ludowici Branch, Hwy. 84, Ludowici; Diversity Health Care, Gen. Stewart Way. Hinesville; Diversity Health Care, Main Clinic, Fraser Drive., Hinesville; Diversity Health Care, Ludowici Clinic, N. McDonald St., Ludowici; GeoVista Credit Union, Main Branch, W. Oglethorpe Hwy., Hinesville; GeoVista Credit Union, Fort Stewart Branch; Hinesville City Hall, 115 MLK Blvd., Hinesville; Flemington City Hall, Old Savannah Rd., Flemington; Midway City Hall, Butler Ave., Midway; Liberty County Annex, North Main St., Hinesville; Liberty County East End Complex, Hwy. 84, Midway; Riceboro City Hall, Coastal Highway 17; Walthourville City Hall, 222 Busbee Road; Coastal Family Center, Cattail Crossing, Suite E, Midway; Century 21 Action Realty, Gen. Screven Way., Hinesville; Food Lion Grocery Store of Hinesville, E. G. Miles Parkway; Island Café, Army Education Center E. Gen. Stewart Way; Navy Federal Credit Union, S. Main St., Hinesville; Realty Executives Liberty, S. main St. Hinesville; Savannah Tech, Liberty Campus, Airport Rd. Hinesville; Starbucks Coffee, W. Oglethorpe Hwy. Hinesville; VFW, E. G. Miles Parkway. Hinesville (school supplies only).
For more details, email libertyhomeless@gmail.com or call 912-271-3192.