LAWRENCE: HomeFront needs back to school supplies for 91 kids

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   The first day of school is less than three weeks away, but HomeFront’s annual “back to school” drive —which seeks to outfit the children of homeless families or the working poor — needs donors to help outfit 91 children with new clothing and shoes.
   HomeFront, which is headquartered at 1880 Princeton Avenue in Lawrence, helps the homeless and the working poor. Last year, the effort provided clothing and backpacks full of school supplies to more than 1,200 children — and the need is just as great this year, said Connie Mercer, the organization’s executive director.
   ”Unfortunately, we still have 91 children who do not have all of the things they need to start the school year on a solid footing,” Ms. Mercer said. “We don’t have the resources to cover the all-important new set of clothes and sneakers.”
   ”Remember, school is a social — as well as an educational — experience,” she said. “It’s about fitting in, getting ready to learn and self-esteem. You can’t learn the basics if you don’t have the basics. We want the children to feel like the others who have a home and a stable family life.”
   On the first day of school, it is “crucial” to the children’s success and self-esteem that they have new clothing and shoes, Ms. Mercer said. Homeless children often feel different from their peers, because they are not dressed fashionably.
   But donors can make a difference, she said. They can contact HomeFront to “adopt” a child and fill out the wish list prepared by the child’s parents. The form contains the child’s age, sex and clothing size. It is given to the donors to help them shop.
   A suggested first-day-of-school wardrobe includes a shirt and pants, a dress or skirt, socks, underwear, shoes or sneakers, and a uniform (if necessary). Donors may want to take their children with them when they go shopping, because the children will know what is fashionable and what other children would like to wear.
   People who want to help can also donate money to HomeFront’s back-to-school fund, which pays for school supplies, class pictures, field trips, sports equipment and similar expenses for children throughout the school year, Ms. Mercer said.
   Ms. Mercer recalled visiting a homeless family that was living in a motel on Route 1, and noticing that the children were at home and not at school. That’s because the mother — who was in tears — did not have the money to pay for a school trip, she said.
   ”It’s all about breaking the cycle of poverty through education,” she said. “Homeless children have a particularly difficult time getting an education (because of frequent moves). It’s the nature of homelessness. They are ‘poverty nomads.’ They never find a real academic home.”
   Meanwhile, clothing may be dropped off at HomeFront’s headquarters at 1880 Princeton Avenue Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and on Tuesday between noon and 6 p.m. The deadline is Aug. 24.
   To participate or donate to the Back-to-School program, call Judy Long at 609-989-9714, ext. 107, or email [email protected], or check HomeFront’s website at www.homefrontnj.org.