Project REACH, a program of the St Paul Public Schools, provides services for all students and their families experiencing homelessness, as well as those students who have been placed in foster care. Over 700 students are enrolled in this program to date. Assistance League of Minneapolis/St. Paul became aware of the need for winter coats for these students and fortuitously, a generous anonymous donor contributed $5000 to meet this need.
Thanks to this donor, we were able to provide 192 warm coats and 36 hat/mitten sets, bringing both smiles and warmth to students experiencing homelessness. Heather Alden from Project REACH said, “As our Minnesota temperatures continue to dip, our little ones need to be warm at bus stops, recess, and as they move about our city; in Minnesota being warm is a necessity. The donation of new warm coats and boots continues to be such a gift for all these students and their families as they navigate the complexities of living in shelters, hotels, in the community, bus stations and doubled up wherever possible. These new winter coats provide some respite from the winter winds! We are so grateful!”
The need continues to be high, and with sufficient funds remaining in the Smart Start budget, we are in process of procuring additional coats and boots to help additional students brave our MN elements and focus on learning, and not on staying warm and dry.
