New Hampshire’s Homeless Students to Receive Backpacks Filled With School Supplies

What:

Feed The Children will deliver approximately 1,000 backpacks and four pallets of books for homeless children and youth in New Hampshire. The backpacks are filled with school supplies, non-perishable food and personal care items. For the fourth year, Homeless Education and Literacy Program (H.E.L.P.), an outreach program of Feed The Children, has partnered with the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) and the NH homeless education program to distribute backpacks to children in need. Local homeless education liaisons will pick up the backpacks and books on Oct. 28th starting at 9:00 a.m.

When:

Friday October 28, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.

Where:

Ben Franklin Printing, 39 Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett, NH 03106

Why:

New Hampshire schools, through the work of their local homeless education liaisons reported 3,164 children and youth living in homeless situations during the 2010-2011 academic year. It is estimated that the actual number of homeless children and youth in New Hampshire may be much higher since the school count only represents children and youth enrolled in school and does not include toddlers and infants and out of school youth living in homeless situations.

Who:

Ben Franklin Printing has generously donated their parking lot, staff, and equipment to assist in this event. This is Ben Franklin Printer’s first year supporting the backpack/food/book distribution effort. Additional partners and supporters include:
• NH Schools homeless education liaisons
• New Hampshire NAEHCY personnel
• Outreach and shelter workers
• Title I project managers
• NH Department of Education
• NH Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Homeless and Housing

Contact: Lynda Thistle Elliott, Ed.D.
Director/Homeless Education
NH Department of Education
(603) 271-3940 or Lynda.ThistleElliott@doe.nh.gov