60 minutes......Homeless children.... here in Florida!! Help, please....

I don't know if anyone else watched 60 minutes last night, and saw the segment on poverty stricken, homeless children and the struggles they are going through.....

Because of economic hardships and high unemployment, many families are being forced out of their homes, and into motel rooms where they crowd in, living week to week. In fact, school busses now stop at dozens of cheap motels to pick up children for school.

They interviewed some of the kids, and it was absolutely heart-wrenching to hear them talk about how they try to study with flashlights because power had been turned off, the embarrasment of living in a family van, bathing in a WalMart bathroom, the guilt that some children feel because they believe they are a financial burdern on their parents, and most of all, how they go to bed hungry...... This was NOT a documentary on some third world country, but right here in Seminole county, Florida.........

I was absolutely blown away with emotions after watching this, and I have decided to ACT on it........ I will be contacting CBS as well as the Casselberry Elementary School and finding out the best way to make a donation or to help any way I can.

I know this is a car forum, but if there's anyone else who would like to donate towards this, please let me know........... Feel free to email me at [email protected]


The story is here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/06/60minutes/main20038927.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody

 

Whoa!! I had no idea things were so bad here. I LIVE in Seminole County. I'm in Lake Mary, which is about 20 minutes or so from Casselberry, but am very familiar with the area.

It appears my old High School is even participating in providing lunches, etc.

Fred, what do you have in mind? It's one thing do donate money, but do you think if there's enough of us we could setup a grill somewhere and do hamburgers & hot dogs for these families?

I realize it's far for a lot of the Florida crew, but I think it would be great for us to work together on this project.

 

Car show with donations......I will start thinking about this.

 

Is there a charity set up for these kids?

 

Donation site

It's going through the Seminole County Public School system

 

Simply donating to the school board is not an option for me....... I see too many school boards mismanaging funds, and I would prefer that whatever is donated or done has a direct benefit to the kids and families that need it most..........

I contacted the elementary school and spoke with the secretary. I also emailed the principal and asst principal. I discussed and offered that however they believe would best serve the children (directly), that would be most appealing. I suggested options such as donations direct to the families, raising cash for the school to provide food, offering gift cards for food or clothing, a BBQ, and several other options. I am awaiting some feedback from them on how/what they feel would be the best option to help........

 

Fred, let us know what you find out. I've got some condos in Tampa that I'd "donate" to needy families facing circumstances similar to those shown on 60min to allow them time to get back on their feet.

 

I feel the same way. When I donate, I don't feel like it's as sincere as actively helping. Clicking a button on a website is too easy, although I'm sure it is appreciated. I also agree that funds are not always as effectively allocated as we'd hope.

Fred, thanks for kicking this off. I'm looking forward to the update. I'm totally on board to help with whatever it is that you figure out.

 

The best way to help would be to find the parents of these kids a job. That is the problem - no jobs.

 

I also saw the show and felt the same way, although with donations, one never knows where the money really goes and for what it is used.
Finding them jobs would be really the best thing, but they live in Counties where jobs are probably hardest to come by to begin with.

 

My 17 year old got involved this year in a church that on Thursday's feeds local homeless in Fort Lauderdale and wow..........some folks come there with several children in tow.....big impact to see that for my kids. Each time we go now we bring disposable razors and socks as those are the 2 most needed items for homeless people.

We all lead lives that allow us to donate to causes that are meaningful to us. Donate however you can

 

Hi Mike, would you mind sharing which Church is that?
My children could also use that kind of experience.

 

Not sure of the name, but it's about 100 yards North of Sunrise Blvd, directly on Andrews Ave in Ft Lauderdale on the East Side of the road. The program I have done a few times with my kids is feeding the homeless on Thursdays. If you get there around 5pm the head of the program teaches you how to best help them after which you can in the future get there a little later. The church also operates a day care- Pre K program that although I have not done it, allows kids and parents to attend where you can help read to kids and play with them (and donate whatever you can) Monday- Friday. I will be going back later this month again with my entire family on a Thursday evening. Believe me......this is a wonderful life changing experience that you all should do to help put our privelaged lives in perspective!

 

Heart wrenching. FYI, that link took me to the March segment.

This is the updated June segment: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7371392n

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpOU1L7Z8zA[/ame]

 

Any updates on this? Fred, have you come up with any ideas?

 

I spoke with some people at the school.... however, most things are at a standstill due to it being summer break..... I will follow up and let ya'll know.....

 

Spoke with them again today...........


Apparently, there was so much outpouring of support after the 60 minutes episode, they don't even know how, where, and what to have us do yet.

On August 4th, Home Depot is sending a crew to remodel one of the portable classrooms, there is also already coordination with several local charitable organizations, some connected to religious groups, some connected with the school board, etc...

I explained that (my opinion) the preference is to directly help the children and families, not necessarily to send money, gift cards, or other tender to a charitable organization where we don't really know if/where it goes.

They're going to call me back in another week, when they figure out what we can do. However, unless they come up with a better idea, my suggestion is to collect backpacks and all sorts of school supplies and I will ship them all up to Orlando (or personally take all of it to them at the end of August).........so, unless they come up with a different suggestion, I will be collecting school supplies at FMFL's next cars & coffee!!

 

Sadly, this problem exists all over the country.