Last issue The Roosevelt News addressed the many faces of homelessness. Many organizations in our area are dedicated to helping others out of poverty, and there are many ways you can help.
Madeline Sheppard-Marvin
Today marks the beginning of the second week of the RHS Student Health Council’s snack and toiletry drive. Donations of items listed below can be dropped off at boxes in the Teen Health Center, the main office, the lower commons, and outside of the library. New and like new items are greatly appreciated.
Items collected by the 14th of February will be donated to the Neighborcare Health Homeless Youth Clinic on 45th Street. This organization provides health care services to homeless youth and teens in the Wallingford area. Toiletries will be provided to patients, and snack items are also valuable, as clinic hours often overlap with those of food banks.
This drive is an easy and effective way to help homeless youth in the Seattle area. Access to healthcare can make a huge difference in the lives of those who are in need, and by supporting organizations like Neighborcare, you are doing an incredible amount of good for the community.
Meghan O’Kelley
Homelessness in Seattle is an important topic, and must be addressed by students as well as adults through community action and volunteering.
One such activist/student, Halle Remash, has shared with me her experiences working with the organization Facing Homelessness, run by an ex-architect/photographer, Rex Hohlbein, who dedicated his life to “push the issue of homelessness” through photography. Four years ago, he began his activism on the street level, talking to homeless youth and adults and learning what the key issues were and how to address them effectively. Hohlbein wants to focus on homelessness at the individual level, and he gets to know each person he helps. A quote from the Homeless in Seattle Facebook page, the parent organization of Facing Homelessness, perfectly explains their objective: “Raising awareness for those living without shelter and other basic needs through the sharing of photos and personal stories that highlight their beauty”.
Halle earns 2 minutes of community service each day by updating the organization’s Google+ page, and her sister, Marli earns the same working on Pinterest. It is an excellent way to earn community service hours, and a fantastic and vital organization. To prospective volunteers, Halle writes: “If you are looking for a flexible, fun, meaningful, and REAL community service opportunity then this is a good place to start”.
Join Halle and other volunteers to earn community service and DO something about the issues you read about in the last paper. Community action is the most important way you can positively influence homelessness in Seattle.
