Our Kids in Need Program is a multi-pronged effort that provides support to foster kids and unhoused students in the Tri Valley Area school system. We provide a range of services from snack food and needed clothing to reading books, games and toys for the children to use when they are meeting with their birth parents. We continually reach out to the schools to determine their needs for the foster and unhoused students in their district.
This center is a collaborative project among Alternative Family Services (AFS), Alameda County Social Services Agency and Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services. The Gathering Place provides a comfortable, family-friendly environment where foster children and their birth parents can meet in a safe and supervised setting. Our chapter supplies reading books, games, toys, puzzles, art supplies and snack bags for the children to enjoy during their visit with their birth parents. We also supply them with gift cards to enjoy experiences with their birth parents.
To support the foster and unhoused students within this district, we have created and filled school backpacks with school supplies for graduating seniors to take with them to college or trade schools. We have provided beanies, gloves and scarves in the winter. We supply them with assorted snack items for the kids to access during the school day.
Similar to the Livermore School District, we provide foster and unhoused students in the Dublin with items that the school social workers recommend. Recently it was gloves, beanies, scarves and reusable water bottles.
In early 2023, we partnered with one of the social workers serving Dublin School District to supply their dry goods food pantry that serves foster and homeless students. Once a month our members go shopping and deliver the requested items for the students to choose from and use during their school day.
We provide similar services to foster and unhoused students in the Pleasanton School District as including filled duffel bags, gift cards, and any other items that the school social workers recommend.
In addition, we just started a new unique program in Pleasanton. Our chapter is working with a special needs teacher who is running The Hanger, a classroom that has been converted into a “clothing store,” offering free clothing to needy students, their families. and anyone else who needs clothing. Our chapter members donate new and gently used goods to this program, sort through the clothing donations once a month ,and help display them for the “customers”.
Kids in Need Program Chair
assistanceleagueamadorvalley@yahoo.com
(925) 461-6401
