Homewood Community Unites to Tackle Bed and Food Insecurity Among Students
The charming city of Homewood is witnessing a heartwarming initiative aimed at uplifting its youngest residents. In a remarkable effort to combat food and bed insecurity, volunteers and community leaders have joined forces through a program called Homewood Helps. With the support of the local school system, this initiative is determined to ensure that every child has a decent meal and a proper place to sleep.
The Stark Reality
According to recent statistics, approximately 1,000 students in Homewood City Schools qualified for reduced-cost or free lunches last year. Sadly, many of these students struggle to find a bed to call their own at night. This sobering reality inspired community leaders and advocates to take action. The driving force behind the program, David Thompson, who serves as the vice president of the Homewood City Schools Board of Education, believes that everyone deserves the basic necessities to thrive.
Why Food and Beds Matter
Thompson shared, “We believe that if every student has enough food in their stomach and a quality night of sleep, they’re going to be better in the classroom.” He emphasized that students who are well-fed and rested will experience fewer distractions, allowing them to perform better academically, socially, and physically in school.
Bringing the Community Together
Homewood Helps was born out of the desire to centralize support and simplify assistance for families in need. Thompson and likeminded community members identified basic necessities as critical areas of focus. “We started to come together to decide what are a few things that we believe could help our students and families. This effort naturally landed on food and beds,” he explained.
The Programs in Action
Families in need can easily enroll in the Homewood Helps food assistance program via homewoodhelps.com. Those identified by school staff are also eligible for support. Volunteers enthusiastically pack backpacks full of food for children in elementary and middle schools, while high school students receive food and toiletries as needed. Katie Smith, a school counselor in the district, emphasized the importance of protecting each student’s identity and dignity throughout the process.
“Our school counselors work to see which family is in need and may benefit from the program. Then volunteers from our community help to pack those weekend food bags, bringing them to the schools discreetly,” Smith elaborated.
Beds for All
Homewood Helps has also partnered with a nonprofit organization named Sleep In Heavenly Peace, which is solely dedicated to providing beds to children who need them. Students identified through the program receive a complete sleeping setup, including a wooden bed frame, mattress, sheets, and a pillow. Shockingly, many children in the community are found sleeping on couches or other unsuitable places.
Smith revealed, “People would be surprised by how many students sleep on couches. We have families of all shapes and sizes living together, and many have moved recently without enough beds for everyone.”
A Collective Effort
With dedicated volunteers and the support of the local community, Homewood Helps is actively working to build beds for children in need. Recently, during a bed-building event held on October 5, community members rallied together to produce an impressive 60 beds in just one day.
Thompson passionately encourages others in the community to get involved, stating, “If the community knows about this, we can all rally together and get on board to solve this problem. It’s something that we can solve locally. Every kid deserves enough food, and we want to ensure that every child sleeping on the floor has a quality bed.”
Join the Effort
For those who wish to make a difference, donating, volunteering, or signing up for assistance programs is just a click away. Visit homewoodhelps.com for more information. The hope is that no child in Homewood will ever have to worry about their next meal or where they will sleep at night.
