Here are important ways YOU can help the Homeless Children's Education Fund respond to the educational needs of children who are homeless.

And you needn't be an adult.
Learn how Winnie's All-Stars are making a difference and consider organizing a Reading Marathon.

We invite you to read through this listing of ways to help. Links are provided to examples of what other individuals and groups have done.

If you as an individual or the representative of a community organization or business would like to sponsor a unique fundraiser or collect educational materials – most particularly art and music supplies – for distribution to a shelter or shelters, we ask that you complete a Special Project Application form so that we will know what you have in mind. (html version) (MS Word version).

An important note: Because we have experienced such a generous outpouring of books for distribution in the shelters over the past two years, we're out of storage space at the HCEF office and in the shelters. PLEASE do not conduct a book drive for HCEF.

AS AN ALTERNATIVE consider conducting a Reading Marathon to raise funds in support of the eight (soon to be ten) shelter-based HCEF Learning Centers! Please see and make copies of the Reading Marathon Reader's Book List and the Reading Marathon Sponsor List, both .pdf formatted documents. Instructions are included on both forms. It is also important that you complete and send to HCEF the Marathon Proposal form (alsp .pdf) so that we know a class, organization, family, or individual intends to conduct a marathon. Call Carlin at 412-562-0154 with any questions.

Help build community awareness

• Talk with colleagues, friends, and family members about what you've learned regarding the the educational challenges facing homeless children.
• Let them know that over 3,000 children (500-600 on any given day) experience homelessness every year in Allegheny County and that these children have difficulty entering the public school system and competing with their peers. (To heighten your own awareness, see HCEF's answers to frequently asked questions about the day-to-day lives of homeless children. We also provide links to a number of informative on-line resources).
• Learn what your school district policy regarding homeless children is. Is there a prescribed means of identifying and supporting these children and their special needs?

  One powerful example of building community awareness: Each year during National Hunger and Homelessness Week (mid-November) the Department of Education for the Diocese of Pittsburgh sponsors an essay and poster contest in its middle schools for which students in grades 5-8 write about or illustrate their understanding of homelessness. We post examples of both on this website.

Help raise funds and resources

• Make a personal contribution to HCEF and invite colleagues and friends to match your gift.
• Designate a contribution through United Way Contributor's Choice #963315.
• Make non-cash donations in the form of stocks, savings bonds, and Certificates of Deposit.
• Encourage the business for which you work to serve as a corporate sponsor of our annual Champions for Children Benefit or become an EITC contributor.
• Encourage the business for which you work to donate in-kind goods and services such as printing, designing, mailing, office supplies and equipment.
• Organize a fundraiser such as:
  1. jeans days at work
  2. an in-home chamber music concert like those offered by Concerts for Causes
  3. a Monte Carlo night like that held by the Business Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
  4. a Chinese auction and 50/50 raffle with HCEF the beneficiary of funds raised like that sponsored by the American Marketing Association – Pittsburgh Chapter
  5. have a GIft Card Party, with the cards collected donated to HCEF for distribution among the shelters served.

Help develop a partnership relationship with a shelter

• Encourage a business or group with which you are involved to become a shelter partner.
• Direct advocacy and fundraising efforts toward that particular shelter and its unique needs.

To learn more about establishing a partnership, contact Carlin Christy, at 412-562-0154 or by e-mail to cchristy@homelessfund.org

Help secure needed supplies for a shelter near you

HCEF can help connect you with a shelter in your area so that you can respond to its particular needs. Most of the shelters have websites, and links to these and to a map showing the locations of the shelters are available on our Resources page

• Donate bus passes, taxi vouchers, phone cards, and store gift cards for places such as Giant Eagle, WalMart, Barnes and Noble, and Payless Shoes to a shelter.
• Participate in the Tools for School drive from July through August each year: donate school supplies like ballpoint and felt pens, pencils, crayons, markers, notebooks, rulers, and glue sticks (no sharp objects) and deliver them to any Citizens Bank office, including those in Giant Eagle stores. There is always a special need for donations of the larger backpacks that teens need.
• Donate magazine subscriptions directly to a shelter serving families.
• Donate vouchers sheltered families can use to purchase clothing in area thrift shops. Learn how the National Council of Jewish Women facilitated a free shopping spree at their Pittsburgh thrift shop, Thriftique.

Help ensure the success of special events benefiting HCEF: the annual Champions for Children Benefit, for example, or the upcoming US Marshals Gunsmoke Classic Golf Outing, August 2, 2008, at the Madison Club, Madison, PA. Hole sponsorships are available. (see Events for complete details)

• Spread the word among your friends and colleagues.
• Attend and invite others to join you.
• Encourage the business for which you work to be an event sponsor.
  
  

Call the HCEF office to learn what specific volunteer opportunities are currently available – 412-562-0154

Support HCEF now through your personal donation.

HCEF is an Pennsylvania state-approved Educational Improvement Organization and so is eligible to receive business contributions through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. Learn more about how your business can receive both state and federal tax relief through your participation in this program.

Updated 4/30/08