These are places where kids can borrow a bike, bake cookies, watch TV or get help with their homework from volunteer tutors. One of the buildings is even near the beach so kids get to explore the wonders of the ocean. Jeanie knows that A Home Away From Homelessness is not a complete solution to the problem of kids living in the streets. The club house is more than a shelter and toys. It's an opportunity for kids to feel like they really belong somewhere.
Emotional homelessness is as big a problem as the lack of a physical home.
Jeanie's love and enthusiasm persuade her volunteers to make rock-solid commitments. The lives of homeless kids are a series of disappointments and we don't want to be one of them. Over the years, Jeanie not only became very close to Crystal, but also became close to Crystal's mother, Sandy. The two women formed a strong bond of friendship and understanding. So, after discussing it with her husband, a noted book illustrator, Jeanie received Sandy's permission to adopt Crystal, who was then nine years old.