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Twin Cities- The Storehouse
Lisa Hartmann teaches at an inner-city school in Minneapolis that is filled with low-income children whose parents often can’t afford things most of us take for granted, such as school supplies. Going without these basic necessities can be disruptive to a child’s learning and damaging to his or her self-esteem.
But Lisa is able to bridge the gap of need for her students through the Kids in Need Resource Center, a program of The Storehouse of World Vision in the Twin Cities.The Storehouse provides struggling children and families with life-changing products that range from clothing and toys to toiletries and household items. It offers needed items that lift spirits, boost self-esteem, and ease burdens. These goods are donated by hundreds of U.S. merchants and manufacturers and provided free to partner churches and organizations, which distribute them to those with the greatest need. In 2001,The Storehouse worked with 93 World Vision ministry partners in the Twin Cities area to serve 32,048 families and 45,422 children.
Under the umbrella of The Storehouse is the Kids In Need Resource Center, a free school supply store for teachers who work in schools that serve predominantly low-income families. Teachers “shop” for teaching aids and books, binders, backpacks, pencils, art supplies, and posters. They also might find educational toys and games that can be used as incentives for stellar school-work or good behavior. Thanks to the center, teachers in participating schools don’t have to dig into their own wallets or watch their students go without educational supplies.
Kids in Need offers school and office supplies through a partnership with World Vision and the School and Home Office Supply Association (SHOPA) Foundation for Educational Excellence. Its member manu-facturers and retailers donate their overstock and surplus goods to the center, providing high-quality, much-needed tools for learning. Lisa, who teaches at Anderson Elementary, describes the results of shopping at Kids in Need as “awesome.”
In a letter to the program director and staff she writes:
Thanks to Kids in Need . . . I had 37 days of perfect attendance. That’s up 11 days from last year.
On average, I had 96 percent attendance. That’s up 7 percent from last year.
I used the zipper notebooks for communication between home and school. It was extremely successful and I want to do it again next year.
My students had fewer trips to the behavior room. I sent only two students out of the room this entire year.
During the 2000-2001 school year, teachers from 36 schools shopped at Kids in Need and put new school supplies into the hands of 25, 217 students in the Twin Cities area.
Partners Make it Happen
The Storehouse helps to build bridges between partner churches, schools, and community organizations, and weave a network of support for those who need assistance building better lives.
How You Can Help
Volunteers are crucial to the success of The Storehouse and other programs in the Twin Cities. Financial support also is needed to expand its reach to those who are hurting and need the healing touch of these programs.
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| Vision Youth Help provide tutoring, life skills training, and a caring relationship to high-risk youth. | | ||
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| The Storehouse Provide school supplies, clothes, toys, household goods and building supplies for strengthening families,schools and neighborhoods. | | ||
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| Tools for Transformation Help provide the organizational, planning and leadership tools to transform a neighborhood. | | ||
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| Read about what is happening in The Storehouse program around the country by clicking on the location name below. |
