Students without a guardian and experiencing homelessness
have difficulty connecting with needed support during the winter break from
school. While other students look forward to time off from classes, these kids
experience time off from the security of a warm building, support programs, and
predictable meal times.
Everett Public Schools’ Kids in
Transition (KIT) program helps homeless youth attend school without barriers
or interruption. The KIT program identifies students experiencing homelessness and are unaccompanied by a parent or guardian.
This holiday season, for the fourth year in a row, Community Transit and DSHS
employees organized a Giving Tree program to gather donated gifts for KIT
students. Employees took tags from “giving trees” located in shared workspaces
and purchased items listed on the tags, including gifts, warm clothing and
hygiene items.
The backpacks filled with gifts and other items were
delivered to high school counselors so each KIT student would receive a
backpack just before leaving for winter break.
Kelly Shepherd, Sequoia High School principal, explained
that some of these kids have never had presents to open during the holidays.
According to Shepherd, students return from break and share
details with their counselors about the gifts they received in their backpack.
“This is such a huge impact in their lives,” Shepherd said. Sometimes students
have a hard time believing the gift and hygiene necessities are for them.
Community Transit's Giving Tree program has been going since 2010, and every year employees look forward to
contributing and volunteering, affirming two of Community Transit’s
Core Values:
Teamwork: Agency employees worked together on lunch breaks and off-hours to purchase items and wrap gifts for the Giving Tree program to benefit KIT students.
Equity and Inclusion: The Giving Tree donations were provided to vulnerable teens in our community dealing with challenges accessing resources. Employees wanted the teens to have the same opportunity as other students to experience holiday cheer, regardless of their living situation.
This year, agency employees provided 118 backpacks filled
with wrapped gifts, including $25 gift cards. Additional hygiene items were
donated and will be stored in the counselors’ offices to be used throughout
the year.
Some of the backpacks were delivered to Everett Public
Schools’ Community Resource Center where Community Transit employees met with
KIT Coordinator Amy Perusse. “It’s amazing how these backpacks make such a
difference for these students; it really does take a village,” Perusse said.
The “village” that worked together on the Giving Tree
program in 2019 included Community Transit employees and:
- Washington Kids in Transition
- Lance Lewis, Everett DSHS CSO / Office Manager
- Kellie Bjerkaker, Everett DSHS / CSO Administrator
- Allen Shields, RMR Group / Property Manager
- South King County Firefighters Foundation
- Loma Hair Care
- Everett High School Blue & Gold Club
Almost 400 backpacks have been provided to KIT students over the four years that the Giving Tree partnership has benefited Everett School District's KIT program.
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