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Program President Dan introduced Michael Rappaport, with the Homeless Engagement Lift Partnership (HELP). Michael said they begin their effort to improve the plight of the homeless in their community in 2012. They started in July. Their first project was to fill backpacks with toiletries, hygiene articles and clothing. To date, they have distributed over 20,000 backpacks. Michael's wife, Dawn, was homeless as a child - during her adolescence and early teens. There are layers and cycles of homelessness. They focused on helping those that need help in getting past that point where the cycle is most likely to recur. When youth age out of foster care is one such point. They also looked at demographic information and wanted to focus on an area that would create a better future. They decided to focus on youth. For the past two and a half years, they have a HELP Snackz program which sends snack bags home from school with children identified by the school as needing nutrition when they are not at school. They are operating in the east valley as well as in the Phoenix metro area. They are in Mesa, Kyrene, Tempe Union, Apache Junction and Chandler school districts and also work with some charity schools. The snacks are delivered to the schools every month and sent home with kids every school day. When COVID shut things down in March, they had to figure out another way to help. Michael said there are an average of 4-5 family members in each homeless family. They started delivering grocery bags of food to the families that had an identifiable location. They have delivered the grocery bags to cars, mobile storage units, behind dumpsters. The numbers of those in need are outrunning their resources and ability to adequately serve the needs. He said that Mesa has a disproportionally high number of homeless. In past years, they have had Project Reach Events - dinners with about 250 kids and their families. People attending had the opportunity to adopt a family - not so much about getting money and toys as getting to tell their story. They try to provide education about homelessness. Project REACH attempts to educate the general public especially about the point that the kids affected are not the cause of the problem they are dealing with. Giving them hope starts with food. They need to be able to count on a sustainable source and they need to be able to trust someone who keeps the promises they make. In early 2021, they will begin classes teaching life skills. Since common sense is not so common, they will be teaching critical thinking. There will be 29 classes in all. Their goal is to have the classes available all over Maricopa county by 2022, and eventually throughout the state. For their organization, Michael says that collaboration is very important. We are stronger together than individually. They try to minimize overlap with other programs available in the community. Their goal is to create an opportunity for these kids to thrive. CLICK HERE to watch the short video Michael shared about the HELP Snackz program. He told about 25-40 people packing 9,000 snack bags in 1 1/2 hours. They found an adult care facility where the residents decorated the snack bags. Michael said they are privately funded. A major donor is a real estate broker. They have an "Elite 100" program where donors who donate $100/month for 12 months are recognized for their support of the HELP Snackz program. He said they are a 501(c)(3). More Announcements - Following the program Andrea Murphy announced that Daniel Becker will be replacing her as the sponsoring faculty member for Westwood High School Interact. She is attending Phoenix College full time learning to be a Paralegal. By next year, she will be a full-time paralegal and continue her part-time position at MCC.
- November 5 the program will be presented by Scott Smith, a former member of Mesa West Rotary.
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President Dan Coons opened the meeting reciting the Rotary Vision Statement, and reminding members that the 2020-21 Rotary International theme is "Rotary Opens Opportunities." Wendell Jones offered the invocation.
Rotary International Councils on Legislation and Resolutions
