At Looking Glass HYS, summer time is busy – the heat keeps our day use and overnight shelters busy with youth trying to keep cool and utilize resources.
A renovation project at Station 7 shelter for youth ages 11-17 is underway and will soon allow for an additional 4 beds to add to the 12 beds currently offered there and make the program pet-friendly. This project is costing more than anticipated – we have a funding shortfall of more than $100,000 – a gap that we are actively seeking support to help close. A recent donation from Oregon Blacks for Youth & Families of $10,000 towards this project was quite inspiring and helps get the ball rolling!
New Roads staff members to a lot of laundry!
New Roads drop-in center is hoping to secure funds to upgrade the electrical panel and increase amp wattage to allow for additional washer and dryers as well as an additional commercial refrigerator and freezer to help increase capacity for these basic needs services for the youth we serve and to be able to store and provide more food. Expense estimates to make these improvements would cost roughly $25,000. Laundry service for the homeless youth we serve is extremely important and being able to improve and increase this service would make a big difference. And food is probably our largest expense outside of staff so increasing our storage capacity for perishable foods would be a huge help.
New Roads staff showing off sock donations from 2024 Socktoberfest drive.
Clothing drives coming soon – we are hoping to build momentum from last year in our 2nd annual Braugust and Shoetember drives (in August and September) to bring in undergarments for all genders as well as all kinds of shoes. These drives proceed our 7th annual Socktoberfest sock donation drive in October. We are seeking new or gently used (clean) items that can be dropped off at our admin office during business hours or mailed to us – we also offer Amazon wish lists for these drives. More info coming soon on these.
At a recent event where our HYS staff were providing resource information we had a former client approach in tears – they shared how impactful their experience was with us almost 20 years ago during their time of greatest need. They received help during two pregnancies with housing and basic needs as well as support completing high school. This person went on to graduate college with a business degree and has a healthy, stable and fulfilling life and was exceedingly thankful to the role our staff played during their teen years.
Looking Glass is incredibly thankful to our many wonderful and generous supporters. If assistance is possible for any of these current projects or needs please contact our Development Director, Tyler Mack at tyler.mack@lookingglass.us