New Directions Shelter Needs Help 2019
[From Hawthorn Hill's New Directions Site]
Since opening in February of 1990, New Directions Shelter has provided free, temporary, emergency shelter and services for Iowa’s homeless families with children. The shelter is located at 3001 Grand Avenue in Des Moines, IA.
Our New Directions Shelter program not only benefits the community by providing emergency shelter for the homeless families we serve, but we also provide the services to help the families work towards financial independence. We assist the adults in the families with job opportunities and training to promote their economic empowerment. We also assist our families with obtaining any public benefits that they are entitled to.
[From Oliver, Creator of This GoFundMe]
We're back again for our second year! Last year, we gave New Directions a big boost and helping hand to meet the needs of homeless families in Des Moines, Iowa. It was a smashing success, raising $2400 in just a few days and delivering much needed goods, including clothing, toiletries, cleaning products and more.
You can read all about it here at the previous campaign page!
New Directions was incredibly grateful for all the work and help that came in from each and every one of you. In fact, we were specifically told that the children were most excited to be able to go back to school with fresh backpacks and nice new shoes, provided by YOU! We produced real change last year before school started, and I think we can do it again!
As you might recall from last year, my story is that I was one of the homeless children that was helped by New Directions Shelter 30 years ago when I was 8 years old. Now as an adult, it's my opportunity to help give back and give help to the people who need it the most in real, tangible ways.
[Our Mission]
New Directions has very little in way of discretionary funds to procure these items, leading to struggles. The intent of our campaign is to provide immediate, tangible help with a swath of these items from their wishlist delivered directly to them.
This year's needs are no less important, but are different from last year's. While there's still a focus on school supplies for the children, there's also an increased need on day to day life maintenance for the shelter; Things like garbage bags, mops and brooms, laundry baskets, and more. We want to go bigger, better, and stronger than before!
Our expected timeline is the same, with the hope of getting this done before the beginning of the school year for Des Moines Public Schools (August 23rd), which is in approximately 1 1/2 months. This ensures that we're able to put backpacks and fresh shoes on the children, and get them ready for the fall rainy season as well!
Just as we did last year, I myself will be handling and withdrawing the funds to make the purchases, with updates along the way to show exactly where your money is going. With the requested funding above, my spouse and I intend to procure many of these wish list items and personally deliver them to New Directions Shelter; there is no red tape, no bureacracy involved. The items that you help provide will go directly to the people who need them most.
Just as before, accountability is key; In addition to updates to show exactly where your goodwill is going, please feel free to get in touch with our point of contact New Directions Operations Manager Kiana Hines to verify the authenticity of this campaign, whose contact information can be found right here on their site!
Please help me to help others. Every little bit helps. If only 80 people donated $50, we'd hit our goal immediately!