It’s that time of year. The end of July means many children are heading back to school in Atlanta. As most kids get excited to be reunited with friends and meet their new teachers, some children are part of the 7,000 facing homelessness in Atlanta and do not have the resources to start school.

Without proper resources, a majority of these students will not be able to succeed in their class the way they should. At the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year, the average elementary school student experiencing homelessness had half the proficiency of other students on their 5th grade language arts and math assessments (source: Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness).

The average elementary school student experiencing homelessness missed 88 days of school last year. That’s almost half of the academic year (source: Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness).

With the right resources and raised awareness, these children can have a much greater chance of excelling in their classes this school year.

How You Can Help

Last year, the average US household spent $668 on back-to-school shopping. This includes supplies, clothing, and electronics. This puts kids experiencing homelessness at a distinct disadvantage…but you can help!

Here are a few things you can do to help these children need as they are heading back to school:

1. Donate backpacks for them to take to school.

2. Provide basic school supplies like pencils, paper, folders, crayons, or calculators.

3. Our greatest need right now is uniforms and clothing. The following are items our kids will need for the school year:

• Gray bottoms (pants, shorts, skirts – can be purchased anywhere)
• White polo or button downs w/ Centennial Academy logo
• Black button down or polo’s w/ Centennial Academy logo
• Black belts (can be purchased anywhere)
• Navy Blue sweaters w/ Centennial Academy logo
• Navy vests w/ Centennial Academy logo
• Navy blazers w/ Centennial Academy logo

These uniforms can be purchased here and donated, or you can ship any of these items to Atlanta Mission, 921 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30318.

There are also things you can do around your community and school to help. For example, ask local businesses to display information on the educational rights of students facing homelessness. Check out these resources and downloadable posters. Or maybe you know of a student facing homelessness and can help provide supplies to that student.

The impact of helping these students is great. It will make a huge difference in their lives. They will not only have what they need to attend school, but they will be set up for success for the entire year. And it only happens with your help.