Turning Project [Blank] into Project Hope

This year our culture committee challenged us to complete a service project that benefits our community that is driven by our culture statement, Community Minded. They called this challenge, Project [Blank], with our team filling in the blank as to what project to choose. We accepted the challenge and got to work! We filled in the blank and selected to call our plan, Project Hope.

The goal of Project Hope is to bring awareness to the community about students who are considered borderline homeless or homeless. We are working in conjunction with the Rock Springs High School Outreach Program, which assists students and families in finding solutions to their needs and give them a chance in school and life.

“Project Hope is important because we are raising awareness about our homeless children in the community. Rock Springs is a tight knit community. With the support we will get from our home town, this will make an incredible impact on those who need it the most,” a teller at Commerce Bank of Wyoming said about the project.

“To me, Project Hope, says it all. I HOPE that we can shed light on these unfortunate situations. After listening to Annie Fletcher present the facts and how much is needed, it truly broke my heart and was in tears. I had no idea that this problem existed in our community!” Peggy Santillanes, Senior Teller at Commerce Bank of Wyoming said “I HOPE that our community will now come together and make this an ongoing project.”

There is estimated to be around 150 students that attend Sweetwater County School District #1 that are considered homeless. Out of those students, 35 are unaccompanied or have no guardians, and are trying to make it on their own to meet their most basic needs. Many of these teens face additional obstacles associated with homelessness, such as not having a birth certificate. Without this documentation, they are not allowed to get an ID or driver’s license, apply for food stamps or other government services.

There are grants to help, but there is also a lot not covered by the grants. Through Rock Springs High School Outreach Program, school becomes a support network for the kids and families and helps coordinate with other resources. The school can provide services for kids, but in some cases, families need a little more than what the school can do. Annie Fletcher, At Risk Oversite Coordinator for Sweetwater County School Dist. #1 sometimes needs to reach out to community members willing to donate necessities.

“We have a great support group here.” Annie said “Wouldn’t it be amazing if all kids and families felt that way, that we can provide that for others? Let’s work towards that.”

As a small community, it lies with us to help make a difference. The items needed range from monetary donations to gas cards, gift cards, diapers, soap, shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine products, coats, underwear, socks, t-shirts or any of the basic day to day items we take for granted.

Sources:

Asher, Tiffany “Bringing awareness about student homelessness in Rock Springs” Wyo 4 News, February 7, 2023, https://wyo4news.com/news/bringing-awareness-about-student-homelessness-in-rock-springs/

Caldwell, Ashton, Rock Springs Chamber, https://rockspringschamber.com/