Getting the Word Out

For our volunteers, raising awareness of youth homelessness is a big part of what we do. Yes, we conduct street outreach every week to connect with the youth. But we also need to make our community aware that youth homelessness is real. 13 kids will die each day on the streets. Our job and your job is to make sure kids understand their other options before they runaway.

Don't Runaway Program
The Worcester program is actively participating in the National Don't Runaway Taskforce. Our hope is to help enhance the program and eventually start programs within our own community. These programs allow college and high school kids to take action in preventing youth homelessness. The DRA Program should be implemented in every city and every town. But we as an organization need the help of the community to do this. Find out more here: http://www.dontrunaway.org/.

Awareness Events
While we would definitely like to implement the Don't Runaway Program in the Worcester schools, we are still getting the word out with the volunteers we have by attending awareness events:

Rob Donnelly (Director of Volunteer) and Kristina England (Executive Director) attended the Wesley United Methodist Church Ministry Fair on Sunday, September 13th. They handed out information about the program and wish lists. A few people even signed up to volunteer with the program. We definitely hope to see them all on Wednesday, September 30th at our next Information Session (7:00PM @ Worcester Public Library, Banx Room). Thanks to Chris Flagg (Director of Community Resource Development) for getting us a table at this event!

Allyson Trull, Director of Outreach, will present to Alpha Gamma on Thursday, October 8th about StandUp For Kids.

Get the Word Out
You don't have to be a StandUp For Kids volunteer to spread awareness about youth homelessness. Tell your family and friends about us and our mission. Remember - Every voice counts!

The Outreach Center is Open

As the blog sometimes gets a bit long, here are the topics you'll find below:

• The Outreach Center Update
• Weekly Food Basket Request
• Food Bags Needed
• The August Street Outreach Numbers

The Outreach Center Update

The Outreach Center is now open every Saturday.  Thank you to the following outreach counselors for volunteering throughout the day on Saturday:  Jose Alvarez, Oz Diaz, Rob Donnelly, Kristina England, Ken Latham, and Ally Trull.

Weekly Food Basket Request

We've been looking at our food supply and thought it might be a good idea to have a basket of "healthy" food such as fruit, cheese, trail mix, etc.  Basic healthy food for the kids to eat at the center or take with them.

If anyone is interested in preparing a food basket for us, let us know.  You can sign up for one week, once a month, whatever you like.  Contact Oz Diaz, Director of the Outreach Center, at ozd@standupforkids.org.

Food Bags Needed!

We are now collecting food bags for distribution during street outreach.  A food bag contains the following items:

• Juice Box/Water
  
• Candy Bar
  
•  Pudding/Fruit Cup (pop top)
  
• Cup of ravioli, spaghetti, etc. (pop top)
  
• Bumblebee Chicken or Tuna Salad with Crackers
  
• Granola Bar
  
• Napkin and plastic ware
  

Contact worcester@standupforkids.org if you would like to donate food bags.  This can be a great project for students, youth groups, etc.

The August Street Outreach Numbers

So you are probably wondering how many kids we assist each month.  Here are the numbers from August:

• 15 Regular Kids Assisted
  
• 41 New Kids Assisted
  
• 20 Kids Provided with Meals

This is the total amount of kids we saw in four weeks (one day outreach a week).

The Outreach Center Opens in Two Days!

That's right!  Only two more days until we open the Outreach Center!  We have been very fortunate over the past few months.  Thank you to everyone who has made the Outreach Center possible.  A big thank you to Crystal Bowman from National for helping us throughout the whole process!

The volunteers have been planning away but we also know that this center is going to be a learning experience for us and for the kids.  As we move forward, you'll get plenty of updates on the outreach center and our continued growth as a program.

What's Happening

Rob Donnelly and Donna Katsoudas presented information about our program to the Greater Worcester Community Foundation last week.  Great job, guys!

Tracy Altan and Beth Connors from StandUp For Kids - Boston will stop by Worcester in the near future to attend our next training session.  Tracy and Beth plan to start conducting training for the Boston program.  SUFK Worcester is looking forward to their visit.  Boston has a great group of volunteers.  If you are in the Boston area, check out their Program Website or join their Facebook Group.

The Outreach Center Opens in 9 Days!

The countdown is here! Only nine more days and we open the doors to the Outreach Drop-in Center.

Oz Diaz, Director of Outreach Center, has been busy preparing the outreach center process. On Saturday, August 29th (tomorrow), he will meet with the outreach center counselors (Ally, Donna, Ken, Kristina, and Rob) to go over the process.

New Volunteers
We have a few new volunteers attending training in mid-September. If you are interested in our program, contact us at worcester@standupforkids.org. We hold an information session every month.

The Youth Homeless Numbers in Worcester
Worcester Community Connections is conducting a survey to find out the number of homeless youth in Worcester. StandUp For Kids was asked among other agencies to survey kids last week. Oz Diaz, Rob Donnelly, and Donna Katsoudas surveyed several kids during street outreach. We'll keep you posted on the outcome of this survey.

The Summer Newsletter is Here!

Thank you to Rob Donnelly (Director of Volunteers) for creating the Summer 2009 Newsletter.  You can read it now at the StandUp For Kids Worcester Program Site.  The newsletter link is on the right corner of the page (scroll down just a little).  Plus, our site is looking very nice from all the design updates that Rob requested.  Thanks to David at National for keeping up with us!

Outreach Center Update

Ally Trull (Director of Street Outreach) and the Outreach Counselors continue to spread the word to kids about the Outreach Center opening.  Oz Diaz (Director of Outreach Center) and a couple Outreach Counselors will also hit the streets on opening day to remind kids about the center and take the walk to the outreach center with any kids interested.  Outreach Counselors will be back at the center ready with opening day activities.

Interested in Volunteering?  Meet Us on Wednesday, August 26th

We are having an information session for anyone interested in volunteering for StandUp For Kids (SUFK):

Wednesday, August 26th

7:00PM

Banx Room

Worcester Public Library

You will get all the details on SUFK from Rob Donnelly.  Contact us with any questions at worcester@standupforkids.org.

Donations.  Donations.  Donations.

We have obtained several outreach center supplies.  We now have a laptop, television, filing cabinet, etc.  Thanks to everyone who has donated!  

We still need more items for both street outreach and the outreach center:  Wish List.  

Also, thank you to volunteer Donna Katsoudas for her fund development efforts this month.  She created a great donation letter and wish list for local businesses, and began reaching out to local businesses.

The Don't Run Away Taskforce: Progress!  Progress!  Progress!

The National Don't Run Away Taskforce continues to make progress in updating the Don't Run Away Program.  The Website Team has developed all preliminary web content for the new site.  The updated Don't Run Away Training Manual is in progress.  And drafts of the DRA Informational Presentation and DRA Fact Sheet have been completed.  Thank you to Rob Donnelly and Kristina England (Executive Director) who continue to serve on the taskforce.

Announcing the Director of Outreach Center

Outreach Center Update

One of our outreach counselors, Oz Diaz, has stepped up to the new Director of Outreach Center position.  Oz shows amazing commitment to street outreach and promises to bring a positive energy and dedication to this leadership position.

Stopping By Boston

Rob Donnelly, Director of Volunteers, visited the StandUp For Kids - Boston program on Sunday, August 9th.  The Boston program is a great group of people.  If you are in the Boston area and interested in volunteering for SUFK, please visit their site for more information:  http://www.standupforkids.org/local/Massachusetts/boston/.

This Week's Worcester Update

Outreach Center Update

Six of our volunteers met today to discuss the opening of the outreach center.  Some great ideas/suggestions were brought up along with questions to address before we open the drop-in center.

We are looking for some outreach center supplies.  Check out our wish list at:  http://www.standupforkids.org/local/Massachusetts/Worcester/wishlist.html.  If you would like to donation supplies, please contact worcester@standupforkids.org.

We are also currently seeking volunteers for the outreach center.  If you are interested in volunteering at our new outreach center, please attend our next volunteer information session:

Wednesday, August 26th

7:00PM

Banx Room

Worcester Public Library

RSVP to worcester@standupforkids.org.

Keeping Up on the Local News

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette published an article today entitled "Street survivors" that talks about a group of young adults in Worcester that call themselves Street Survivors.  Here's the link:  http://www.telegram.com/article/20090806/NEWS/908060580/1101