Seminole County Families in Transition

WHY GET INVOLVED?

Together we can make a difference!

The average age of a homeless child in the United States is seven years old.
Children make up one of the largest and fastest growing segments of the homeless population 43%.
21% of homeless children become homeless adults.
Approximately 1.35 million children in the United States are homeless every year.
1 in 5 children don’t have access to nutritional food on a daily basis.
Homeless children move an average of 2-3 times per year.
In 2010-2011 school year, most states had 11% increase in the number of homeless students.
The number continues to rise daily Homeless children get sick four times as often as other children.
Homeless children are 3x more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, PTSD.

SEE HOW OTHERS ARE HELPING

Leaders Preparatory School’s Hygiene Drive

Students at Leaders Preparatory School collected hygiene products to benefit Seminole County Public School’s Families in Transition Program. Leaders Preparatory School is an Islamic private school with about 200 students in grades Pre-K thru 12th grade. Their students do many community service activities throughout the year. They have a food donation bank, work with Ronald McDonald house charities, and also have a girl scout troop within their community.

Fueling Success

Sparked from the "60 Minutes" documentary on the homeless situation right here in Central Florida, Kavaliro saw an opportunity to make a difference as a Central Florida business. Being that committed is one of their core values, they wanted to make the commitment to the community in which we all live, work ,and play by providing ongoing food contributions to a local program. Each quarter "Kavaliro Fueling the Community" has a food drive in which they request 2 specific food items and provide it to several local school pantries for children in need. Their efforts have been very successful and helped our pantries immensely!This past quarter they collected 660 boxes of Cereal, 494 packets of Pop Tarts and 59 misc breakfast items. Truly Amazing!

It's a "sock-cess"!

Members of the Young Vincentians Chapter, the youth arm of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at All Souls Catholic Church in Sanford, collected more than 350 pairs of socks for the homeless during a recent collection drive. The kids also do service projects, including parties with the homeless children staying at the Rescue Outreach Mission in Sanford. Way to go kids!!

Students Supporting Students Canned Food Drive

When Pace Brantley School freshman, Alex Bajayo, learned about the Families in Transition Program in Seminole County, he felt compelled to do something about it. Alex spoke to the school’s principal, Mrs. Shatlock, and the high school counselor, Mrs. Halaychick, regarding the enormous need within our community. Mr. Chisley, Alex, and the Leadership Teams decided to help out by holding a canned food drive. They distributed flyers and collected donations from PBS families and staff members. They delivered these donations on November 15th to Tuskawilla Middle School. The generosity of Pace Families was a fine example of helping others in need in these difficult times. What a good feeling it creates..

Food drive successful at Evolution Auto

Evolution Auto collected non-perishable food items to benefit Seminole County Public School’s Families in Transition program. The public donated food worth $400 and then Evolution Auto provided a $455 match for food to be purchased at Sam’s Club. All food went to school-based pantries in the Sanford area. Students in need can take food from the pantries home to their families.

Additional donations are still needed and appreciated – and will be matched. Bring non-perishable foods to Evolution Auto at 1300 Rinehart Road in Sanford during normal business hours. Evolution Auto is committed to accepting food donations and making a matching donation to Families in Transition to help homeless and hungry students with their basic needs.

Scout Troop collects food for school food pantries

When Jennifer Schmid and Nicholas Schmid from Heathrow Elementary found out that children in Seminole County did not have enough food they asked their mother if they could help. With the support of their mom Colleen Schmid, they went to the neighbors, classmates, Jennifer's Girl Scout Troop as well as Nicholas’s Boy Scout Troop and collected food for the school food pantries. Hats off to you Jennifer and Nicholas, everyone can make a difference!!

School-wide drive to collect toothbrushes

When Student Council President, John Loso from Wicklow Elementary heard a presentation about the Families in Transition Program he wanted to get more involved. For the past 10 years Wicklow has had an annual food drive for the Sanford Rescue Mission Shelter and John thought furthering this drive would be a way for them to help. With the support of their Principal Mr. Turner, their sponsor Patricia and the rest of the Student Council leaders, they organized a school-wide drive to collect toothbrushes from their student body and their families. This is a perfect example of student leadership in action!

The First Annual Families in Transition Charity Golf Challenge

The First Annual Families in Transition Charity Golf Challenge was held on Friday November 18th, 2011 at Mayfair County club. This fun and memorable event was created to help raise money and awareness for the Seminole County Public Schools Families in Transition Program. All proceeds from this event are going directly to help the homeless children of Seminole County with their basic and educational needs. Much appreciation goes to Danny Trosett from the Seminole County Convention and Visitors Bureau who passionately initiated and coordinated the event. The Official Sponsor was Kim and Stan Van Gundy and event sponsors were Sweetwater Wekiva Springs Magazine, Mayfair Country Club, Firehouse Subs and Central Florida Gliders. Lastly, a huge thank you to all of the people involved as well as our 62 golfers to make this event a success and help the homeless children of Seminole County!!

Kaplan for Kids

After seeing a 60 Minutes episode highlighting the homeless school children in Seminole County the admissions advisors at Kaplan University were moved to make a difference and created “Kaplan for Kids. This year they have done two drives, one for hygiene supplies and most recently for school supplies. Julie Bock, Senior Admissions advisor of Kaplan University shared, “Working with my co-workers on Kaplan for Kids I seen another side of my colleagues, a deeper level of caring, compassion and generosity that my co-workers have displayed, as together we help the homeless in our very own community.”

Magic’s Dwight Howard
Joins with SCPS In a Call to Action Supporting Homeless Children (watch the video)
Click here to find a press release from SCPS, Families in Transition Program regarding a PSA that Dwight Howard's D12 Foundation and Seminole County Public Schools have just released!

View two 60 Minute Episodes featuring Families in Transition
Millions of Americans watched "60 Minutes" and were moved by a piece called "Homeless Children: the Hard Times Generation" by Correspondent Scott Pelley. He looked at the crisis of homeless children in Seminole County Public Schools, the youngest victims of these recent tough times.
Watch the videos