A couple days later we sat in the stuffy shelter office shared by the after school program coordinator and the public health nurse. It's important that they realize that we have these problems in January and throughout the year. Socks, underwear, canned food, even toys are needed every month, both Rylant and Sylvia Barnard, Good Samaritan director, have told me. Kids have birthdays throughout the year, and the shelter staff like to give presents then. Christmas time is really unexplainable.
People just open up so much and they're very generous.
If they were homeless New Year's Eve, they're going to be homeless New Year's Day. It's a very long transitional time to get back to have a place of their own. And every little bit helps. You can put it in the garage and let it sit there and collect dust, or you can donate it. Make sure it's in working order.