In and out of classrooms, sleeping in shelters, shielded by parents, homeless children can seem invisible to society at large. For too many people, the face of homelessness is the man standing along side of the road asking for money. Unfortunately, that face is changing. A 2010 count conducted my MDHA (Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance) found that there were 1,137 homeless children on any given night in Dallas County. Area schools already have reported dramatic increases in the number of homeless students.
When families are faced with issues like where they are going to stay or what they are going to eat, their child's education isn't always at the top of the list of things to worry about. Most often, homeless students don't have access to school supplies and clothing. Thankfully, for the children residing in one of the 20 Dallas-area homeless, domestic violence, or transitional living shelters, Rainbow Days is here to help!
Now in its 19th year, Rainbow Days' annual Back-to-School Celebration is a carnival-like event where approximately 400 children who are residing in local shelters and transitional living centers come to enjoy an afternoon of entertainment, games and refreshments. The highlight of the day is at the conclusion of the event when each child receives a brand new backpack filled with school supplies and a brand new school uniform - all in preparation for the new school year.
By partnering with community agencies, such as Captain Hopes Kids, corporations, foundations, individual donors and volunteers, Rainbow Days is able to distribute more than 400 backpacks, school supplies and uniforms to children who are most in need ... and you can help too!
