Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria have left devastation in their wake. You can help those children affected through our efforts here.
HOUSTON
Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on the Houston Independent School District — the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States — forcing school closures and disrupting the lives of hundreds of thousands of students and teachers. The storm damaged nearly all school buildings. About 10,000 to 12,000 Houston ISD students will be temporarily displaced from their storm-damaged schools and sent to other campuses, delaying their first day of school to September 25. These students have lost everything.
Our Partner - Books Between Kids
Together we can help these children. The Peace Fund is partnering with Books Between Kids, to supply books and school supplies to children who have lost everything. Books Between Kids is a non profit organization founded in 2012 to serve Houston's low income students by providing them with books to build their own home libraries. About 85% of Houston ISD’s elementary-aged children live at or below the poverty line. Since 2012, Books Between Kids has distributed almost 1,000,000 books. In May 2016, over 300,000 books went home with more than 42,000 students in 69 Houston ISD elementary schools and early childhood centers.
Address:
Books Between Kids
9947 Harwin, Suite C
Houston TX 77036
Phone: (832) 831-1402
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Children Choosing Free Books at Books Between Kids Fair
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42,000 Houston Independent School District kids started the summer with home libraries.
Schools We Are Supporting
Books Between Kids will be on the ground working with students from 6 extensively damaged elementary schools:
- Braeburn Elementary - 923 students/99% Free and Reduced Price Lunch
- Hilliard Elementary - 675 students/79% Free and Reduced Price Lunch
- Mitchell Elementary - 533 students/87% Free and Reduced Price Lunch
- Robinson Elementary - 631 students/86% Free and Reduced Price Lunch
- Scarborough Elementary - 753 students/95% Free and Reduced Price Lunch
Ways You Can Help:
- Do you have a bookshelf full of children’s books that your kids are no longer reading? Send gently-used Pre-K through 5th-Grade level books and get your friends involved. They are especially in need of elementary-level chapter books and leveled readers (“learn-to-read” books).
- Purchase new books Pre-K through 5th-Grade reading level. Again, chapter books and leveled readers are especially needed. To make it easy, Books Between Kids has created a wish list on Amazon where you can purchase items if you wish: Help Hurricane Kids Wish List
- Books Between Kids will also be accepting any school supplies donations at this address and distributing to these affected elementary schools.
- Donate here and we will purchase the books/supplies and send them on your behalf.
MIAMI - DADE
In Southern Florida, some schools had roofs ripped off and others waited weeks to have their electricity switched back on. Hurricane season has forced the most vulnerable children into even more danger. Their homes have been destroyed and their schools have been disrupted. These children have literally seen their lives washed away. The Title I Migrant Education Program in Miami - Dade Public School System serves over 1,300 migrant farm worker students. These farmworker families are now without jobs, without food and no money to pay rent.
Our Partner - Title I Migrant Education Program
The Peace Fund is partnering with the Title I Migrant Education Program, to supply books and school supplies to children who have lost everything.
This program strives to assist migrant children and their families in achieving success both educationally and socially. It is through partnerships that they are able to provide migrant children with basic necessities such as school supplies, books, school uniforms/shoes/book bags, and support services that are fundamental for the learning process.
How You Can Help
To make it easy, Title I Migrant Education Program has created a wish list on Amazon where you can purchase items if you wish: Help Hurricane Kids Wish List
PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico in a state of crisis. In the wake of Hurricane Maria, mass flooding and destruction have put children throughout the island at risk.
The entire island, home to 3.4 million, is without power. At least 13 people have died. The governor has warned the world that this is “the worst hurricane in a century,” and that rebuilding will be a tremendously difficult undertaking. Of Puerto Rico's 3.4 million residents, nearly 5 percent are children under the age of 18 — and they are perhaps one of the most vulnerable populations.
Our Partner - U.N.I.C.E.F.
UNICEF USA is mobilizing to get immediate, critical support to the children of Puerto Rico affected by Hurricane Maria. While most of UNICEF's emergency relief efforts are focused on international crises, UNICEF is now responding to the natural disaster that's happened in its own backyard. Please help us help them! Any donation, large or small, will make a difference in the lives of these children.
Something as basic as a packet of art supplies or a picture book can help children gain a sense of normalcy. And talking with someone trained in emergency counseling — even having a hand to hold — can give children hope. It is critical that children in crisis get back to school this fall, so their educations won't be disrupted.
How You Can Help
You can help support UNICEF USA's Hurricane Relief Efforts in Puerto Rico by donating here: Help Kids in Puerto Rico
