WELCOME TO STANDUP FOR KIDS SILICON VALLEY

We are all volunteers and we need your help!

STANDUP FOR KIDS - Silicon Valley is one of 42 active, all-volunteer programs committed to reaching out to the 1.3 million homeless and street youth in the United States. We believe there are 2,500 homeless youth in the Silicon Valley area. These kids are not on their own because they choose to be. They are there because they did NOT receive the kind of support during their youth that most of us did and have run away or been kicked out of unsafe homes for reasons beyond their control. They all need someone who cares about them, whom they can trust, who will challenge them to develop and execute a realistic plan to improve their lives, who will be their cheerleader when they make positive steps toward achieving that plan and who will get in their face and challenge them when they make bad decisions. The Bill Wilson Center, which has two facilities to support homeless youth, sees about 1,000 of the homeless youth each year. There are many more in need of support.

In Silicon Valley, we are a small but passionate group of volunteers working to make a positive and critical difference in the lives of homeless and at-risk youth.

About 70% of homeless youth do attend school. Thanks to the McKinney Vento national act of 2001 (which provides specific educational rights to homeless youth), each of the 35 school districts in Santa Clara county has a designated homeless youth education liaison who ensures that their school district is complying with their responsibilities with respect to the homeless youth. We are now teaming with these liaisons, who refer students to us that need and want help.

In February 2009, the Silicon Valley program became an active program. Since that time we have recruited and trained 22 volunteer leaders and outreach counselors, raised nearly $20,000, stocked our storeroom with nonperishable food, clothing and hygiene products for the kids, completed our resource survey and have become known in the community and within the school system. Although we initially found our kids by referrals from their school counselors, we now are distributing our flyers and outreach cards so that more kids can easily find us. We are gearing up for a new school year.

The initial needs of the kids may be basic: food, clothing and hygiene products. Most of our kids get one or two meals per day at school but are often hungry on weekends, and part of our program is to provide them with weekend backpacks of (nonperishable) food that they can return to us empty each Monday to be refilled for the next weekend. While a large part of our budget provides life necessities, other services to our kids will be funded by "in kind" donations however we need to continue to raise cash donations to obtain the necessary supplies and services for our kids.

But don't be confused! Kids DO need the "stuff" we give them (food, clothing, hygiene products and other services), but the real value of our work is showing our kids that we care about them, believe in them and will be there for them through the tough times.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. DONATE. We need to raise additional money to provide the services and supplies that our kids need. Any contribution is greatly appreciated. Checks should be made out to STANDUP FOR KIDS -- Silicon Valley, and mailed to:

   	STANDUP FOR KIDS - Silicon Valley
   	PO Box 321244
   	Los Gatos, CA 95032

   We need contributions "in kind" of all the basic supplies (nonperishable food and hygiene products) listed on our wish list. Please email SiliconValley@standupforkids.org if you can help.


2. VOLUNTEER. We currently are looking to fill several leadership positions and we need additional volunteers to be outreach counselors and to help with everything from fund raising, public relations, food drives, website updating, program development, project management, to just plain wanting to help others and creating flyers. If interested, please email SiliconValley@standupforkids.org. We specifically need additional male outreach counselors and Spanish-speaking outreach counselors. All leaders and volunteers who work with the kids must complete a background check and attend a 16-hour training session.

The Search is on. Volunteers NEEDED!
STANDUP FOR KIDS is an all volunteer program, so for us to be there for our homeless kids, we need your help! If you or someone you know is interested in getting involved e-mail us:

SiliconValley@standupforkids.org