Carrie’s Kids ~ is THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE, for children and youth who are in transition and experiencing homelessness. Carrie’s Kids comes into play after all of the established agencies and organizations have been fully explored and utilized.
Always ~ 100% volunteer. ALL DONATIONS are used to meet the needs of children and youth after all agencies have been fully explored and utilized.
Resilient ~ Our mission: to assist and stabilize children and youth so they have the opportunity to go to school, get a high school diploma, a GED, or train in a trade. Most importantly, we believe EVERY CHILD and YOUTH has the right to shelter, food, water, education, and safety. We strive to enhance their lives with events, sponsors, and mentors (for both children and parents). We work to find and move furniture, food, clothing, school supplies and so much more.
Reinforce ~ Carrie’s work with the Bismarck Public Schools, Students In Transition Program is to locate and identify children and youth who are homeless, and overcome their education barriers. It is through her job that she realized that children and youth in transition have needs that should be met in order for them to focus on their education.
Inclusive ~ Carrie’s Kids goes beyond education and extends to meet all facets to include food, shelter, medical, dental, transportation, treatment, and counseling. The list is individualized and endless.
Evolving ~ It is through the ongoing support and dedication of Carrie’s Kids Task Force that we continually strengthen our efforts to meet the unmet needs of children and youth who are homeless.
Success ~ Carrie’s Kids has witnessed many lives changed for the better, including children and youth having done one of the following: graduated from high school, obtained a GED, learned a trade, successfully completed addiction treatment, found a safe place to live, played a full season of a sport, participated in band, joined us for boy’s club or girl’s club, attended school everyday, didn’t go hungry, or wore clean clothes. This is just the beginning. |
Why Carrie's Kids?
Homelessness is a growing concern all over America as well as here in Bismarck , North Dakota. Families are the fastest-growing part of the homeless population. Many single mothers cannot afford the escalating costs of housing. They keep their families off the streets by moving into homeless shelters, seedy motels or houses of friends and relatives.
It tears children from parents and siblings. Children who are homeless move so often they cannot keep friends. They witness violence or, worse, suffer abuse. Researchers say that family separation caused by homelessness increases the likelihood of a child becoming homeless as an adult.
What Is The Purpose of Carrie's Kids?
Carrie's Kids helps homeless children, youth and their families. This mission is carried out by volunteers, whose efforts help outreach, assist and stabilize children and youth so they can receive as good an education as their circumstances permit. To do this, we try to motivate them and meet their immediate needs so they may be successful; this includes providing food, shelter, medicine, and clothing. Then we strive to enhance their lives with sports sponsors, mentors for both children and parents, finding and moving furniture, and so much more.
How Did Carrie's Kids Start?
Carrie's Kids started out of Trinity Lutheran Church's (40 days of community) worship campaign during Winter 2005 and continues today. During that campaign the congregation picked an ongoing service project that would affect the area where they live. A Carrie's Kids Task Force was formed to coordinate efforts to impact students who are homeless in Bismarck , North Dakota. All items and monetary donations are logged in at Trinity Lutheran. Everything donated goes straight directly to the people in need. Carrie's Kids operates with volunteers and is actively working and seeking more volunteers.
What Is the Target Population for Carrie's Kids?
Carrie's Kids primary focus is school aged children and youth, going to school in Bismarck , North Dakota. However, we know in order to help them be successful, we have to work with and provide support to the whole family.
What Can You Do?
Pray, volunteer your time and talents to move furniture, work on cars, be a mentor, etc.
Donate money, and/or time to meet the unique and individual needs of children, youth and their families who are homeless. |
