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“I have met very few hearts that are so kind.” – Father Pedro Arrupe

Not long ago, a call came into Homeward Bound from a student at St. Francis Xavier School.  The student explained that her 7^th grade class had been assigned an Arrupe Project and she had selected Homeward Bound as her beneficiary of choice.  When asked for more information about the Arrupe Project, the student explained that it was a challenge assigned to them in religion class – one that encouraged each and every student to find a creative way to help end inequality in their community. 

Pretty soon, another call came in.  And another.  In the end, seven students had selected Homeward Bound for their Arrupe Project and were eager to begin their journey to support families with children fleeing lives of homelessness and domestic violence.  The students each came up with a unique fundraising idea and used the funds to purchase items needed desperately by Homeward Bound families.

The projects were darling, indeed – one student tie dyed headbands and socks; another organized a car wash; one even raised $800 selling homemade rubber band balls to his fellow students.  These children became mini entrepreneurs and proved to all of us that you are never too young to make a difference in this world.

Not long after the projects ended and the funds were raised, Homeward Bound received an exciting influx of supplies, including utensils, dishware, sheets, sunscreen, water shoes, cleaning supplies and hygiene products.  The students proudly delivered these items themselves, many staying on for a tour of the facility. 

In a gracious email, one student wrote “It was so amazing to see what Homeward Bound does and I am so glad I chose to work with you.  It was very informative and we [my family and I] left the tour saying how we wanted to come back soon to volunteer and work with the kids or to somehow help out.” 

It is the end result of engagement that keeps us energized here at Homeward Bound.  We love when children come to us with their fresh ideas and boundless energy, ready and willing to help however they can and excited to do more, even when their assignment is complete.  In a day and age where children are given little credit for their ability to put others before themselves, the Arrupe Project has become the perfect example of the kind, generous and innocent spirit of children. 

Thank you to all of the St. Francis Xavier School children who worked so hard to make a positive change in their community – you are an inspiration to us all!

July is lovingly known as Make a Difference to Children Month and really, making a positive impact on a child’s life is one of the most valuable things you can do.  It has been said that 85% of a child’s brain development occurs within the first five years of their lives[i] so it is our job as parents, friends, teachers and community members to either ensure that the appropriate development occurs in those first years or to work hard to help those who have, sadly, missed those important building blocks and milestones; those who have missed out on the beauty of a real childhood. 

At Homeward Bound, many of our children enter our program frightened, hungry, developmentally delayed and aching for stability and security.  They have experienced more hardship than most of us will in a lifetime.  So to be able to embrace them with the love and support offered by our staff is the first step toward breaking the devastating cycles of homelessness and abuse in their families and setting them on the path to happiness and success. 

However, there is only so much we as a staff can do – beyond that, we rely heavily upon our volunteers and donors to bring exciting activities to campus that promote child well-being and self-esteem.   Two activities that are doing just that are our new Boy Scout and Girl Scout programs!

If you have ever been a scout, you know how wonderful it is – whether creating a fun arts & crafts project, learning about the value of friendship, building a campfire or tying a great knot, these two programs build self-confidence and leadership skills and provide our children with tools that they will take with them through life – not to mention the wonderful memories and friendships they will make.

One of our most memorable summer moments at Homeward Bound happened about two weeks ago when our young Boy Scouts piled into the lobby with their backpacks on, waiting to head to day camp.  As we hurried to make sure everyone had the appropriate socks, shoes, sunscreen and water bottles, we saw the look of excitement and anticipation on each of their faces.  Camp, something so commonplace to many of us, is a true luxury for these children.  It is time away from grown-up worries to play and be children again, to embrace nature and to learn.  Well, wouldn’t you know that luxury grew ten-fold when a STRETCH LIMO arrived to pick the boys up for their first day!  Not how you typically envision jetting off to Boy Scout camp, but something that was so much fun and exciting for these children, we couldn’t help but smile and jump up and down with them.

As they climbed into the limo, music cranked and grins huge, we waved them off to their adventure, feeling happy that they were in good hands and that they would never forget this summer.

Thank you to our troop and den leaders, camp counselors and the National Boy Scout and Girl Scout Associations – the work you do is one-of-a-kind and truly does make a difference to our children.

With the summer months just around the corner, it is time to kick-off the annual Homeward Bound Back-to-School Drive!  We all know how quickly those June and July days fly by and before we know it, the streets will be dotted with children climbing up the steps of a bright yellow school bus. Please help a Homeward Bound child go back to school this fall with confidence and all the supplies they need for success by donating a backpack and supplies to the agency this summer!

The Back-to-School Basics:

School Age Children:

• Our goal is to provide each child with one set of new clothes, a pair of new shoes, a backpack and school supplies. 
• Ideal places to shop for inexpensive clothing and supplies:  Wal-Mart, Kmart, Ross, Target and Old Navy.

Teenagers:

• We have over 50 teens in our program and we try to have a few adopted by each group.
• Teens are difficult to shop for so we recommend a $50.00 to $75.00 gift card from one of the stores listed above along with a backpack and school supplies.

Timeline:

• Friday,  June 1:  Sponsor commitment form for the Back-to-School Drive returned
• Thursday, June 7: Notification of matches (children to sponsor) provided to sponsor
• Monday, July 23 and Tuesday, July 24: Sponsor’s delivery day to Homeward Bound

(9:00am – 6:00pm)

• Wednesday, July 25: Back-to-School distribution to Homeward Bound children

Thank you so much for considering participation in the Homeward Bound 2012 Back-To-School Drive.  For more information or to get involved, please email volunteer@homewardboundaz.org

In life, there are those who shine in the spotlight for all they do…. and those who work quietly in the background simply because they believe in something. At Homeward Bound, we are fortunate enough to have three volunteers who come in each week without fail to support families in need, ready to serve where they can with smiles on their faces.

Beth Hood, Liz Imparato and Katie Mueller work in the emergency pantries in our administrative building where all of our food, clothing and household donations are stored. Beth and Liz spend hours organizing the shelves of nonperishable food items and household supplies for families who are new to our program or who may be on a particularly tight budget. Katie coordinates the clothing in our Dress for Success boutique where our mothers can go to pick out a new outfit for themselves before an interview or for their children for school. They have truly become a part of the Homeward Bound family and make a huge difference in the lives of those we serve.

In addition, these three superstar women have volunteered at our signature events, A Derby Affair and the Old Bags Luncheon®, helping with registration, raffle sales and check out. They are self-motivated, organized and hardworking because they understand that the work they do is meaningful. A big thank you to Beth, Liz and Katie – you are all irreplaceable and we are SO grateful for the work you do each day!

In honor of Children’s Dental Health Month, we’d love to shine the spotlight on one of Homeward Bound’s special treasures – the Tooth Town Dental Clinic!  As you know, having clean teeth is incredibly important to the overall health of all children.  And who doesn’t love a bright, white smile?  Sadly, many children do not receive the preventative services needed to keep their teeth in tip top shape.  A family’s income, insurance coverage and work schedules can inhibit a child’s ability to undergo a checkup with a dentist. 

Fortunately, that is not the case here at Homeward Bound.  Supported by Delta Dental of Arizona, Tooth Town has welcomed hundreds of children in and out of the dental chair and has helped to keep oral health at the top of the priority list at Homeward Bound.  Not only that, but the children have access to a prop box complete with “dental tools” and a puppet that the teachers use to supplement what they learn during their cleanings.  Understanding why they need to take care of their teeth and how to do it properly is essential to their well-being and development.

Nestled within the Kids Corner Learning Center, Tooth Town is a bright, friendly space kept in pristine condition and tended to by Dental Hygienist Bonnie, Affiliate Hygienist Micki, and Dr. Lee Weinstein.   We can’t thank them enough for all of their hard work!  Stop in for a tour and visit our clinic to see for yourself.  And if you are a Homeward Bound family, be sure to get your kiddos in for a cleaning!

In a recent report issued by the Department of Economic Security, the parameters of homelessness in Arizona were investigated in great detail. For the Homeward Bound Board Members and Staff, the findings reaffirmed the invaluable role that transitional housing and comprehensive social services play in combating poverty and domestic violence – two of the most detrimental societal “diseases.”

In 2011, 19,271 adults and 5,685 children experienced homelessness. Of those, 30% were facing homelessness for the first time due to job loss, foreclosure or eviction, a direct reflection on the state of the current economy. While shelter stays are helpful and necessary for the emergency relief of homelessness, the median cost of services used by an un-housed chronically homeless person is $4,066/month whereas ones provided with transitional housing use an average of $1,492/month in services after 6 months and only $968/month after 12 months.

Beyond statistics, however, is the idea that combining transitional housing with supportive counseling, life skills training and child care specializing in early intervention and therapeutic services sets a family on a path toward confidence and self-reliance. We are no longer looking for temporary fixes, we are looking to find solutions that yield positive returns and maintain longevity.

In recognition of Poverty in America Awareness Month, we sincerely thank our generous donors, volunteers and friends for their support whether it be through financial contributions, in-kind goods and services, or simply by paying attention to our blog and Facebook posts. We had many successful accomplishments in 2011 and hope to continue forward with increased homeownership and job stability for our clients while we spread awareness of our mission. Your belief in all we do means a new beginning for our families.

For more information and statistics on poverty in Arizona, please visit: https://www.azdes.gov/InternetFiles/Reports/pdf/2011_Homelessness_report.pdf

Homeward Bound recently spent a night movin’ and groovin’ – literally.  With a KidBop CD playing in the background, fifteen young girls danced, sang, played games and talked about their hopes and dreams with golf pro Allison Micheletti.  The theme of the night was “Girl Power” and the self-esteem from these often fragile girls was high.

Recognizing that young girls are pressured every day to make both good and bad choices, Allison reached out to Homeward Bound and asked to facilitate a workshop for some of the agency’s children.  Her hope was to empower them to believe in themselves and stay focused on their goals.  Keeping with the theme of breaking cycles of homelessness and domestic violence, Allison asked each of them about what they want to be when they grow up and gave them her own personal tips for success.

The night was rounded out by fun team-building exercises, including the creation and untangling of a human knot and getting-to-know-you games. Ping pong made its way to the activity list as did the challenge to build a house out of playing cards.  The girls were rewarded with different prize donations, such as bath and body products and treasure boxes filled with treats and toys.

So there you have it – fifteen little girls who hope to become doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, teachers and actresses someday were given a little encouragement and the powerful message that if you can dream it, you really can do it.  We are grateful to Allison and look forward to her next motivational workshop with our young girls.  She is a true example of an inspirational role model for children.

We live in a society that is constantly on the go; all of us can attest to this.  Meals are eaten in the car and catered by the likes of fast food giants.  The sit-down dinners so typical of the Leave it to Beaver days are, well, antiquated. 

But here at Homeward Bound, our Kids Corner Learning Center is showing us that the days of politely passing the butter and chatting about our lives are not quite over.  The Family-Style Dining Service is teaching our children and their families the value of breaking bread together.

The staff members at the Kids Corner Learning Center have been working with the children on such tasks as setting the table, politely asking their peers to pass the potatoes, and helping clean up once they are finished.  They are learning about healthy food choices and are growing more excited by the day to share their knowledge at home with their own families.

It seems as though the tables may have just turned.  As their busy parents toy with what take-out food to order, these youngsters are requesting family dinners that they make and share together.  Our five-year olds are certainly teaching their moms and dads a thing or two about family values and quality time. 

Our families are eating healthier, conversing more, and remembering the importance of good manners.  Most importantly, they are spending more time together.  They say everything you need to know you learned in kindergarten – or maybe from a kindergartner at the dinner table.  There may just be some truth to that.