A donation drive is underway to collect funds to help low-income and homeless students in Brevard cope with the impact of the Coronavirus crisis.
The Brevard Schools Foundation (BSF) is coordinating efforts to help students in-need during this turbulent time. Activities include preparing 5,000 school supply and hundreds of hygiene kits that will be distributed to needy students to use while schools are closed; purchasing grocery store gift cards to give to homeless students; and planning for future unanticipated needs created by this unprecedented emergency. A fund drive has been established so that the community can assist with these efforts.
“This is a very stressful time for students,” said Janice Kershaw, CEO/President, Brevard Schools Foundation. “It is especially unsettling to kids from low-income households and those who don’t have stable housing because these children count on our schools for stability and to meet so many of their basic needs. These packs of school supplies and hygiene items as well as grocery gift cards will alleviate some of the stress put on the students and their families during these challenging times.”
To prepare for the March 30 start date for on-line learning, the BSF staff is busily preparing kits for distribution. School supply kits will be customized for elementary and secondary students so that they have what they need to complete their school work at home. Hygiene kits will include basics like soap, shampoo, a tooth brush and toothpaste. Feminine hygiene will be included in kits for middle and high school girls.
There are a reported 1,520 homeless and 35,000 low-income students in Brevard. These will be the priority recipients of these kits according to Kershaw. “We are working out distribution details with the schools and with the school district’s homeless liaison. We want to get supplies to the kids who need them most as quickly as possible.”
Assembling this many kits at once will almost completely deplete the inventory of the Supply Zone for Teachers, a resource center that provides free school supplies to teachers in high poverty schools. “It will cost $180,000 to provide supply kits to all 35,000 low-income students in Brevard, so the need is potentially overwhelming. This is of particular concern because the complete impact of the Coronavirus crisis will not be known for some time. We know there will be a tremendous need for other services as families are faced with economic hardships. We just do not know what those exact needs will be at this time. However, it is important that we are ready to answer the call and serve the students in Brevard.”
The Brevard Schools Foundation has set up a fund drive to help with the immediate needs and to prepare for future needs of Brevard students impacted by this situation. Out of an abundance of caution and to capitalize on wholesale purchasing power, the Foundation is accepting only cash donations at this time. “Normally we would ask for supplies as well, but we don’t want to encourage people to be out shopping and we do not have the man-power to sanitize and sort supplies at this time. Monetary donations also allow us to use our wholesale vendors to stretch donations even further,” added Kershaw.
Donations can be made on-line at the link above, over the phone at 321-633-1000 ext. 11454, or by check mailed to Brevard Schools Foundation 2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera FL 32940.
Local businesses and non-profit groups are invited to participate as well. For more information contact Elizabeth Schreiber, Store Manager, at 321-617-7727 or Schreiber.Elizabeth@BrevardSchools.org.