By Mervyn Myers | Development Director
Many of us have protection from the elements but exceptionally violent thunderstorms, searing heat and humidity have made the lives of the homeless on the streets of DC exceptionally challenging this summer. UPO helps the DC homeless throughout the year. With a rise in DC homeless, the UPO Shelter Hotline vans transported 162,494 people to warming centers, cooling stations and homeless shelters in 2014.
During the period October 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 UPO has distributed 41,132 comfort Items to DC homeless assisted by Shelter Hotline – see PDF attached. Our project, “Help UPO Help the DC Homeless” has been promoted through the Global Giving website since March 18, 2015 and we are grateful for the 113 generous donations totaling $8,112 that we have raised to date toward the purchase of additional comfort Items. Attached is a recent letter of thanks from Shelter Hotline clients expressing appreciation for the support they received.
We participated in the Global Giving Partner Rewards Bonus Day on July 15, 2015 when we received 18 additional donations totaling $1,005. We will be participating in the Global Giving 30% Bonus Day, the final Bonus Day of the year, on Wednesday, September 16th and plan to allocate $2,000 raised that day towards helping to fund a special Homeless Children’s project to deliver 837 winter, baby, and hygiene kits to children of homeless DC families living in House of Ruth shelters and at DC General Shelter for Families. The need for resources to support homeless families with children is increasing. According to the 2014 Point-in-Time Count of Homeless Persons in the Metropolitan Washington Region, produced by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the number of children in homeless families in DC increased from 1,868 in 2013 to 2,236 in 2014, an increase of 19.7%. As the number of children in homeless families continue to increase, so too does the need for greater resources for those who provide sanctuary for them. The distribution of winter, baby, and hygiene kits to children of homeless DC families will improve their wellbeing by providing them with some basic necessities to get them through the tough winter months ahead.
Please look out for us on Global Giving 30% Bonus Day on September 16th!
UPO’s Mission is Uniting People with Opportunities. If you are interested in receiving additional updates about UPO activities in our ongoing war against poverty visit our website http://www.upo.org or send your mailing address and email address to mmyers@upo.org for periodic updates.
Thank you so much for your support Helping UPO Help the DC Homeless.
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By Mervyn Myers | Development Director
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