Let’s turn 10K into 20K for KPBSD students who are homeless

What's your one thing?



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Thank you to everyone who braved the snow and winter weather to gather at Farnsworth Park in Soldotna, Alaska, for the 6th Annual Candlelight Vigil for Homeless Youth and Families. At the gathering, a mix of silence, storytelling, reflection, music, and creating notecards for students in the program filled the hour for the eighty to ninety people who gathered. Dale and Rhoda Dolifka received the "Knight in Shining Armor" award for their advocacy on behalf of youth and families who experience homelessness. Musician Vickie Tinker sang a song, One Thing, which invited everyone to identify one act of care or compassion they can offer. Speaker Pegge Erkeneff shared the generous offer from a friend who believes in kindness, occasionally visits Alaska, and read about the Candlelight Vigil on Facebook. This person wants to help the young people who live on the Kenai Peninsula and experience homelessness, and is creating a little magic with one thing that is a big thing: up to $10,000 in the form of a 1:1 matching donation to all monetary donations to the Students In Transition (SIT) program, through December 18, 2015.

"This is an incredible offer of generosity, and I am truly grateful; it is also an incredible opportunity for the community to make a significant impact. My hope is that people with a heart for homeless children and youth use this challenge as a catalyst for conversation, contribution, and extension of care." --Kelly King, KPBSD homeless liaison

Help make it $20,000. Why?

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KPBSD anticipates serving close to 300 students who are homeless this year; already 185 students are enrolled. Our student numbers are on the rise, needs are increasing. One of the highest expenses is for basic clothing and winter gear. In addition, emergency food supplies, hygiene products, school supplies, and other unexpected expenses. The 2015-2016 McKinney-Vento grant funds are spent. Thus, the program relies on generous donations that come from student advocacy, school projects, private donations, and fundraisers, such as the spaghetti feed and silent auction the Kenai Central High School student leaders are hosting on December 4, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. We know students are holding penny wars at schools, and many caring and kind people of all ages want to help. This is a powerful way to make a difference through a $5 donation, or $500 donation. Please help make a $10,000 gift become $20,000.

How to contribute

Monetary donations can be made through the school district into a designated KPBSD account.

One hundred percent of every donation goes directly to supports and services. Donations are 100% tax deductible. To donate, contributions can be made at the district office—make sure to indicate it's for the SIT program. Additionally credit card* donations can be made through the KPBSD website online payments link on the Students-Parents tab or via the online payments icon on the KPBSD mobile app. Questions? Call Kelly King or the district office. *There is a 3.61% processing fee calculated on all payments, no exceptions. This is the actual cost of the processing fee from RevTrak, and is not a source of revenue for the district.

"We are very appreciative that a donor is willing to make such a substantial and generous donation to our SIT program, said Sean Dusek, superintendent. "I am very thankful for this opportunity and for all of the donations that are coming in for our program."

The SIT program has enrolled 185 students since the start of the school year in August, 2015, and this number will continue to increase as the year progresses. These students range from pre-kindergarten to the twelfth grade and are in every community within our school district. In the central peninsula, 136 youth are enrolled, 31 are unaccompanied youth, and 105 are with a family unit. In the southern peninsula, 49 students are enrolled, 19 are unaccompanied youth, and 30 are with a family unit.

The SIT program purpose is to ensure educational programs for students are not interrupted while they are in transition. Eligible families or youth are those who lack a stable, adequate, and permanent place to sleep at night. If you or someone you know is sleeping in a motel, a camper, a tent, couch-surfing, or living with friends or relatives then this program can help.