The teens participating in a weeklong Social Media for Social Change camp last week at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor’s Center were already pretty tuned into the idea of giving back to the community. After learning that 700-1,000 of their peers are homeless on any given night in Seattle, they got to work using their social networks to raise awareness and collect school supplies for YouthCare. After a week of tweeting and posting about the need in our community, they collected donations at the Gates Foundation Visitor’s Center, and wound up with four full boxes of needed supplies!

This fall, young people in YouthCare’s housing, shelter, and drop-in programs are headed back to school like any other teen, and need all the same supplies – backpacks, notebooks, USB drives, pens and pencils. They also need new clothing, socks, and underwear to help them feel confident on the first day of school (again, just like any other teen!). Hosting a drive for these items is a great way to teach kids about the needs of homeless youth and get them involved in the solution. YouthCare can provide customizable posters, fact sheets, and tips on how to host a successful drive.

Learn more about hosting a drive here, or contact us at donations@youthcare.org with any questions.