Have you ever come across a statistic that was so disheartening it gave you goosebumps?
Try this one:
An estimated 1.5 million children are without homes each year in the U.S., according to the National Center on Family Homelessness.
Here's another one:
In 2011, an estimated 9,020 people are homeless in San Diego County—the number is a 5.9 percent increase from 2010 when it was 8,517, according to the San Diego County Regional Task Force on the Homeless.
Of the number of homeless people who were counted in emergency shelters and transitional housings, 61 percent were children.
But there's more behind those statistics. According to the Campaign to End Child Homelessness, “Children living in families who are homeless or at risk for homelessness suffer from hunger, poor physical and mental health, and missed educational opportunities.”
At least one local nonprofit is working to help children living in homelessness.
Created more than 100 years ago, the YWCA of San Diego County is a nonprofit organization that offers services to women and families in need. The YWCA also offers residency to about 300 people every day in San Diego—60 percent of whom are children.
This holiday season, Patch is extending a helping hand to the YWCA and we'd like you to join us.
Patch—with the help of the , , and —will collect toys and other needed items for the YWCA. Donations will be collected during regular business hours—in exchanged for good karma—until Wednesday, Dec. 14.
It's often said that at the heart of the holiday season is kindness and compassion.
We may not be able to extend that kindness and compassion to the 1.5 million children, but we can do our part to ensure those at the YWCA understand the meaning.
We'll just do it with Legos and Barbies.
Any of the items listed on the YWCA's Wish List (to the right of this screen) can be dropped off at the following locations:
13381 Poway Road
Hours:
- Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
12440 Poway Road
Hours:
- Monday-Thursday, Sunday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
4045 Midland Road
Hours:
- Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information about the YWCA of San Diego County, visit its website.
