The Homeless Children's Trust, organized and run by volunteers, provides temporary assistance to homeless children in order to minimize the risks of educational and social failure associated with homelessness.
Currently, the program provides the following activities:
Back to School Event - Children and parents meet companion shoppers and purchase "back to school" items. Families are issued vouchers of $50, $75 or $100 per child (based upon age). Back to School activities are held in Linn and Johnson counties. Other counties make applications on a family-by-family basis.
Christmas Event - A Christmas party, held in the first Saturday in December for children is hosted while parents shop (with vouchers) with companion shoppers. Christmas Events are held in Linn and Johnson Counties. Other counties make applications on a family-by-family basis.
Other Assistance -
- Emergency Fund (Emergency Health Care, Essential Equipment - ie, high chairs, care seats port-a-cribs, etc; Protective clothing; coats hats, mittens, etc.
- Educational supplies and Equipment
- Shoe and Boot Fund
- Emergency Child Care
No salaries or indirect expenses are taken from the donations. 100% the fund is used to assist homeless children by providing funds for emergency childcare, health care, protective clothing and educational supplies or for coordinating the events. The Trust is entirely dependent upon community donations. For more information on the Homeless Children’s Trust, call Mary Fielder at (319) 270-3583. Donations can be mailed to the Homeless Children’s Trust, P.O. Box 490, Hiawatha, IA 52233.