Mt. Diablo Students Seek to Help the Homeless

From Mt. Diablo Unified School District:

Mt. Diablo Unified’s Homeless Outreach Program is working to promote happier holidays for homeless families. The annual donation drive directly benefits MDUSD homeless students and families.

What: MDUSD Homeless Outreach Program for Education (HOPE) Holiday campaign

When: Now through December 9, 2016 for gifts and wish list items to allow for wrapping, packaging and delivery; and through December 16, 2016 for financial and gift card donations.

Where:

• Mt. Diablo Unified School District Office, 1936 Carlotta Drive, Concord
• Willow Creek Education Center, 1026 Mohr Lane, Concord
• Mt. Diablo HOPE, 2730 Salvio St., Concord

Background: MDUSD is committed to addressing barriers to educational success for homeless students and ensuring the educational success of all students in the district. MDUSD’s Homeless Outreach Program for Education (HOPE) staff work with homeless families to reduce stressors and connect families with needed resources, including housing resources, employment assistance, health care and health insurance, mental health care services, and other supports. Currently, there are close to 400 students identified as homeless within MDUSD.

The HOPE for the Holidays campaign connects sponsors with homeless families to help grant ‘wish list’ requests. Gift cards and tax-deductible donations are also welcome in supporting families during the upcoming holiday season.

Donors can help in the following ways:

· Sponsor children in a family. Personal wish lists of students are posted at https://goo.gl/Hj33Ex or contact Elsa Dalpiaz at hope@mdusd.org or (925) 682-8000, extension 3054.

· Buy gift cards that enable caregivers and youth to select their own items. Department store and grocery store gift cards can be mailed to or dropped off at Mt. Diablo HOPE, 2730 Salvio St., Concord, 94519.

· Make a tax-deductible donation by sending a check to Mt. Diablo HOPE, 2730 Salvio St., Concord, 94519.

· Donate new hoodies or sweatshirts for students. Please drop off or send to:

• Mt. Diablo Unified School District Office, 1936 Carlotta Drive, Concord
• Willow Creek Education Center, 1026 Mohr Lane, Concord
• For online shopping, please send orders to Mt. Diablo HOPE, 2730 Salvio St., Concord

Each donation directly benefits homeless students and their families; donations of any amount are welcome. For additional information, please contact James Wogan, Administrator, School Linked Services, Mt. Diablo Unified, at (925) 682-8000, ext. 3054, or woganj@mdusd.org.

In accordance with the McKinney Vento Homeless Education Act (2002), HOPE staff assist schools, homeless shelters, and families and students to enroll students in school immediately; to remain in the school of origin for the duration of a school year; to obtain transportation to/from school, to obtain needed nutrition & free meals at school, and to have access to the same programs and opportunities available to all students, and to ensure that education is provided in the least restrictive environment.

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