| 2004 Self Sufficiency Kids' Back to School Clothing Drive & Family Adoption for the Children of FSS participants at Plano Housing Authority |
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| For many children in North Texas Back To School does not mean new clothes and new school supplies. It means another year of make due and duct tape on the pants. Shame and humiliation. Another year of making excuses for missing school supplies and painful shoes that do not fit. Another year of watching their friends do drill team, band, cheerleading and football from the sidelines- if they are lucky enough to get to go at all. It means another year of extreme poverty in government housing. Many of these children have been in public housing most of their lives, but their parents have done an astonishingly couragous thing- they have signed a contract to be off all public assistance within 5 years. The PHA Family Self Sufficiency Program has 40 active participant families (and a waiting list). There are between 40-60 school aged children in the families and we are organizing a back to school clothing drive for these children. Most families live in Plano, but others are in Garland, Richardson, Allen, McKinney, North Dallas and surrounding areas (all are served by Plano Housing). We are requesting donations of new or used clothing and new socks and underwear so that they can start school, some for the first time, properly attired and without shame. If you do not have any used childrens clothing to donate would you please email this page to someone with school aged children by using the link at the top of the page? Donations can be picked up by our volunteers or dropped off at the Plano Housing Authority (click on map link below). There are also volunteer opportunities on July 20 for groups and individuals. Many of our families would welcome a mentor and would be thrilled to meet with sponsors and share their situation and goals. You can be as involved or uninvolved as you choose to be. You may adopt a child or a family or simply donate used clothes or donate a gift card to your favorite store if you have no used clothes to donate! This week we have posted the sizes, age, grade and any special needs for each child in the program hoping that someone will make a difference in their life. Could that someone be you? Thank You! |
| 100% of all donations will go directly to a school aged local child living in poverty whose parent is honoring a signed commitment to change their situation. |
| One Hundred Years From Now One hundred years from now, It will not matter how much money I made, What kind of car I drove, What sort of house I lived in. One hundred years from now, The world will be a better place, Because I made a difference, In the life of a child. |
| Used Clothing Giveaway and Immunization Clinic at PHA for FSS Tuesday, July 20 Volunteers at 3pm Clients at 6pm |
| Who To Contact J. Rios, Deputy Director Plano Housing Authority jrios@planoha.org 972-423-4928 x12 L. Jones Clothing Drive Coordinator sskbtscd@yahoo.com 214-227-4454 |