In a recent newsletter sent out by our outreach partners at Bethany House Services, they wrote about how the children they serve are particularly vulnerable when it comes to meeting educational needs and goals. They wrote “The disruption of COVID-19 has had an impact on all of us, and our families were no exception. Our children in shelter were affected more than most, due to the challenges of remote learning and the long periods they were homeless before arriving at Bethany House.” They go on to write, “homeless children are behind in school an average of one to two years, change school three to five times per year, and are diagnosed with learning disabilities at twice the average rate.”
This past Sunday, in conjunction with our Blessing of the Backpacks at Calvary, we were able to collect dozens of items for Bethany House’s back to school drive. It is our hope that these items, which included everything from crayons to Clorox wipes, will equip the children at Bethany House with everything they need to have a safe and successful school year. Thanks to all who donated!