Janice Walker welcomed the Mesa West Rotary Members and McKinney Vento program coordinators to Helen's Hope Chest Thursday, February 29. She explained that the facility provides help provide clothing for children in the foster care system. They can visit the facility once each quarter and pick out five outfits. If they are staying with a family that has biological children who are along for the shopping spree, those bio children can each pick out one outfit. The circumstances for each child are unique and often very heartbreaking. There are no generalizations that fit the majority.
In addition to the outfits, each child will get two books. The books they are given are new or like new. There is a wide variety to choose from. Some children treasure the books they've received in prior visits and want to go to the book room first. For them, the book room is the reward after they've picked out their outfits.
On their first visit, the children can pick out a home-made quilt. On their birthday month, they get to visit the toy room and pick something out.
About 375 kids visit their shop each month. Sixty to seventy of them are new. There is a lot of turnover in the Foster Care system as many are either adopted or returned to their birth family creating a "revolving door" as new children enter the system.
They serve all of Arizona. Foster families from rural Arizona bring their kids through when they are in the area for doctor visits, etc. Mesa West Rotary is very appreciative that Helen's Hope Chest is allowing our McKinney Vento students to enjoy the same benefits as the children in foster care even though they are not in the foster care system.
The clothing is displayed very nicely and gives the feeling of a nice department store. All clothing is washed. It is new or gently used. They do not have a problem getting enough clothes for girls in appropriate condition to give away, but clothing for boys is much more challenging. There is very little demand for boys "dress up" clothing. Boys' play clothes are often worn out before they are outgrown. Gently used is not a way they would be described. Consequently purchases are made to keep enough in stock to satisfy the needs. They have a huge need for boys jeans, tee-shirts and hoodies.
Donations which are needed are
- New books
- Hygiene items
- New or gently used clothing from size 3T on up
- Tee Shirts, Jeans and Hoodies
- Money
As clothing is donated, it is washed and either placed on the sales floor or sorted into bins by size, gender and season and stored in the warehouse. Jim Schmidt indicated he had spent a lot of hours working in the warehouse.,
Companies that upgrade their laptops sometimes donate the laptops being replaced to be refurbished and "cleaned" to be used for charitable purposes. Helen's Hope Chest makes them available to foster care kids, and are also including our McKinney Vento students in that opportunity. They may have a lap top being provided through the school system, but they will have to give that one back at the end of the school year. The refurbished laptops will be theirs to keep.
Those participating in the tour posed to memorialize the $1,000 donation from Mesa West Rotary Foundation to Helen's Hope Chest. In the photo are: John Pennypacker, Lola McClane, Eric Silverberg, Logan Harper, Jim Schmidt, Janice Walker, Jeanie Morgan, Lisa Grant, Warren Williamson and Colleen Coons. Lisa Grant is the person we work with for McKinney Vento. She is our connection to homeless unaccompanied students. McKay (who took the photograph) is a social worker at McKinney Vento who works with Foster families. Both Lisa and McKay are with Mesa Public Schools.
Following the tour, box lunches were enjoyed at the United Way facility across the street from Helen's Hope Chest. President Colleen gave our tour guide a tray of cookies for the Helen's Hope Chest staff to enjoy.
Transforming Communities, Creating Opportunities, Impacting Youth
Doubletree, 1011 W Holmes
Mesa, AZ 85210
United States of America