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The check presentation
took place at Family House, 669 Indiana Ave. in Toledo.
SSOE contacted Family
House after media reports that nearly 2,700, or 10 percent,
of the Toledo Public School students are homeless. This
represents the highest number among state of Ohio schools.
Family House is a
non-profit organization dedicated to providing homeless
families in crisis with professional, comprehensive housing
and social services in a safe, caring environment. The goal
at Family House is to help families in their time of crisis
find permanent housing, help them regain control over their
lives, and reclaim their independence through education,
community resources and compassion.
Faced with an immediate
need to raise $60,000, Family House asked SSOE to help
sponsor the first local Hunger and Homelessness Awareness
Week.
“The statistics speak for
themselves - especially when you consider that every one of
those statistics represents a child in crisis. A child for
whom school has taken second place to simple survival. When
we saw the report of the challenges local students within
our own community were facing, we were immediately on the
phone asking Superintendent Dr. Romulus Durant how we could
help. The first organization he mentioned was Family House
because of the unique void they fill within the community
--- Keeping homeless families together and successfully
transitioning them into housing so that students can get
back to focusing on learning,” said Howell.
“We are extremely honored
that Family House has asked SSOE to be a part of their first
local Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. This week, we
call upon other community members and businesses across the
area to come together to not only raise funds for Family
House but also raise awareness about the pressing issues of
hunger and homelessness. We can’t keep the promise that
‘you’ll do better in Toledo’ until we ensure even the most
vulnerable among us will do better in Toledo!”
“SSOE agreed to help us
during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week by issuing a
challenge to the individuals and businesses in our community
to help raise money,” said Reneé Palacios, executive
director, Family House Toledo. “We cannot thank SSOE enough
for their donation and for proactively stepping forward to
issue a challenge to our community. We hope to raise $60,000
during thismonth to invest in homeless facilities.”
Family House is the second
largest homeless shelter for families in Ohio, noted
Palacios. The facility houses 36 families every day,
typically including 65 children.
Carty Finkbeiner, former
Toledo mayor and current vice president of the Family House
Board of Directors, also thanked SSOE for their donation and
praised their participation.
“The SSOE Group is one of
Toledo’s sleeping giants. While internationally known,
their donation and participation shows that they care about
our community,” Finkbeiner said.
Those wishing to make a
donation as part of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
have several options. They including visiting
familyhousetoledo.org, and clicking on the “donate” icon to
make an on-line donation; or mailing a check to Family
House Toledo, 669 Indiana Ave., Toledo, OH 43604.
Those interested in a tour
of Family House or with questions on donations and donated
items, can contact Reneé Palacios, Executive Director, at
419.242.5505 or E-mail: rpalacios@familyhousetoledo.org
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