For every time there is a season. This is the season to reflect and give thanks, a time to remember all that we have to be thankful for.  We are so grateful that we can help thousands of homeless students connect with their education through one of our programs; we are deeply appreciative of our generous donors, large and small, who make this happen and support our organization year after year; we give thanks for our fabulous volunteers, our team and our shelter and school partners.  My thanks giving list goes on and on and if I were to name all of you, it would be as thick as a telephone book.  It would be good reading though.

Many in our communities are not as fortunate.  The homeless child population has increased almost 50% in the past two years. Lack of affordable housing, poverty, and unemployment - the top three causes of family homelessness - will not diminish any time soon.  Coupled with huge cuts in education budgets, our homeless children are less and less likely to get any kind of education. How can a 7 year-old child learn when she has not slept the night before because she's scared and hungry and doesn't know where she'll sleep that night?  How can we expect a 15 year-old to care about graduating when he has to study in a closet because the shelter lights have been turned off?  

Those of you who are friends of School on Wheels are truly friends to these children. As the voices get louder and angrier, as people take sides on issues surrounding poverty and homelessness in America, I know you will not give up on our children.  They are the most forgotten and vulnerable in our society.  Their future is through education. This means staying in school, having the supplies and tools necessary to accomplish their work and gaining confidence through small successes (and kindnesses) each day. 

We are grateful that we have friends like you whose compassion and generosity allow us to reach out to the ever-increasing number of homeless students in our communities.  We welcome your ideas, insights and thoughts to help us achieve our mission of reducing the gaps in the education of homeless children from kindergarten through grade 12.

With deep gratitude and appreciation,

Catherine Meek
Executive Director

We asked students at our Downtown Learning Center what they were thankful for.  Here are just a few of their answers (and their turkey hands.)
Aa'Laysha, 7 - I am thankful for School on Wheels because it is fun.
Mason, 8 - I am thankful for tutors because they help us study.
Jose, 11 - I am thankful for the tutors because they teach you new things.
Kayloni, 6 - I am thankful for the learning center because we get to play on the computer.
Tori, 11 - because you always know how to cheer me up.  Thank you for everything.