/PRNewswire/ -- National Safe Place (NSP) is launching the "Txt 4 Help" program, a 24-hour text-for-support service for youth in crisis. The "Txt 4 Help" program, announced today at a news conference in Washington D.C. hosted by Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., will make getting help for teens easier. Youth in crisis can text the word SAFE and their current location to the number 69866, (e.g. safe 101 main St., Chicago IL), and they will receive an address for the closest Safe Place site and contact number for a local youth shelter. In cities that don't yet have a Safe Place program, the youth will receive the name and number of a youth shelter. If there is not a Safe Place program or youth shelter, the youth will receive the number for the national hotline. The text service will be available across the U.S. on Oct. 15.
The new "Txt 4 Help" program has the ability to reach even more youth in crisis than NSP has reached by traditional means. Almost 90 percent of teens have regular access to a mobile phone, and 66 percent of those teens prefer text-messaging to calling. NSP believes the "Txt 4 Help" program will change lives.
"We strongly believe that by communicating to youth in a way that they're comfortable with, we will reach thousands more youth needing help than we have in the past," said Linda Rutherford, chair of the National Safe Place board of directors. "We are hopeful that this program will encourage teens to ask for help and discourage them from running away."
Jasmine Williams, an 18-year-old homeless youth demonstrated how "Txt 4 Help" works at today's event. Williams came from an abusive household and currently resides at Sasha Bruce Youthwork, one of the largest youth service providers in Washington, D.C.
"Jasmine understands the value of Safe Place locations where kids can get help," said Sandy Bowen, executive director of National Safe Place. "She is moving away from the negative experience that once shaped her life towards a more positive future and because of this, she was so thrilled to share this information with other teens so they can get the help they need in a crisis when they need it - easily and quickly."
Each year an estimated two million youth run away. Most young people do not run away to experience additional freedoms, but rather are running away from a problem that they cannot solve, according to Department of Justice statistics from 2006. A Department of Justice study from 2002 indicates that 21 percent of runaway youth had been either physically or sexually abused within their homes within the year prior to their leaving.
Safe Place was created as a community collaboration that provides easy access to help for young people in dangerous, threatening or vulnerable situations. There are close to 17,000 designated businesses and community buildings displaying the Safe Place sign nationwide.
Since 1983, more than 240,000 youth have accessed help at a Safe Place site, or contacted their local youth shelter after learning about Safe Place at a school presentation.
Each year the U.S. Senate designates the third week of March as National Safe Place Week, recognizing the thousands of businesses, schools, fire departments, law enforcement and volunteers who work to keep communities safer for young people.
"It's hard to find a kid today who isn't constantly keeping in touch with their friends and family through text messages. The Txt 4 Help initiative is an innovative project that harnesses the popularity and power of texting to give kids instant access to assistance when they need it most," said Congressman Yarmuth. "National Safe Place continues to make Louisville proud by developing new ways to help young people in crisis."
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Showing posts with label shelter. Show all posts
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Thursday, October 15, 2009
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Payless ShoeSource Announces Non-Profit Partners for Payless Gives(TM) Shoes 4 Kids Holiday Program
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Leading family footwear retailer, Payless ShoeSource, announced today that 630 nonprofit partners located in small towns, mid-size and large cities and rural areas representing 50 states and the District of Columbia have been chosen for its Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program, a national, grass roots campaign aimed at delivering $1 million of shoes to American children of families in need.
Payless is giving nearly 67,000 $15 gift coupons redeemable through Jan. 31, 2009, towards a new pair of kids' shoes at any of the more than 3,600 stores across the United States*.
Nonprofit partners chosen from Atlanta include City Of Refuge Inc., Atlanta Children's Shelter Inc., Atlanta Day Shelter For Women And Children Inc., Midtown Assistance Center Inc., and Jerusalem House Inc.
Payless said that all partners should receive their gift coupons packages today along with a personal letter from Matthew E. Rubel, chairman and chief executive officer of Collective Brands, Inc., which owns Payless, with a special request to get the coupons into the hands of the children that need them in time for the holidays. The quantity of gift coupons per agency was based on agency size and the number of constituents served. Packages landing today include as many as 200 coupons for some agencies. Many agencies will also provide transportation for group shopping trips to the local Payless stores.
"Kids will start shopping today for their free shoes," said Rubel. "A great pair of shoes can lift spirits, bolster self confidence and bring a huge smile to a child's face. The recipient children can actually select their own shoes -- which will be an even more inspiring experience for them. Together, with our partners, we are thrilled to deliver a true gift to so many families this holiday season."
Payless initiated the new program in response to the economic crisis, its impact on the underprivileged, the significant need across the United States for children's shoes, and to support smaller, localized nonprofits with a tool to assist them in helping those in need this holiday season.
The company launched the program on Nov. 11 with a call to action to the non-profit community to apply to be partners in the national shoe-gifting campaign with an aim to build a network of localized organizations across the nation for immediate, direct access to kids in need. In a 10-day application period, the retailer received more than 2,500 applicants at its application website http://www.paylessgives.com/ and inquiries from more than 3,000 U.S. cities nationwide. The application period is now closed.
"We were overwhelmed by the response from the non-profit community to join us in this important effort -- to give a free pair of shoes to children in need this holiday season," said Rubel. "Our intent is to work with and through a diverse network of localized non-profits that have direct and immediate access to the children. Our chosen partners -- 630 in all -- represent every state and a diverse group of non-profits located in small towns, mid-sized and large cities, as well as rural areas so that we can blanket the nation and most effectively reach those in need."
Greater Horizons of Kansas City, also a nonprofit, served as the independent third-party to manage the selection process based on Payless' core selection criteria, which included IRC 501(c) (3) status, filing form 990, and direct access to underprivileged children in local communities during December.
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Payless is giving nearly 67,000 $15 gift coupons redeemable through Jan. 31, 2009, towards a new pair of kids' shoes at any of the more than 3,600 stores across the United States*.
Nonprofit partners chosen from Atlanta include City Of Refuge Inc., Atlanta Children's Shelter Inc., Atlanta Day Shelter For Women And Children Inc., Midtown Assistance Center Inc., and Jerusalem House Inc.
Payless said that all partners should receive their gift coupons packages today along with a personal letter from Matthew E. Rubel, chairman and chief executive officer of Collective Brands, Inc., which owns Payless, with a special request to get the coupons into the hands of the children that need them in time for the holidays. The quantity of gift coupons per agency was based on agency size and the number of constituents served. Packages landing today include as many as 200 coupons for some agencies. Many agencies will also provide transportation for group shopping trips to the local Payless stores.
"Kids will start shopping today for their free shoes," said Rubel. "A great pair of shoes can lift spirits, bolster self confidence and bring a huge smile to a child's face. The recipient children can actually select their own shoes -- which will be an even more inspiring experience for them. Together, with our partners, we are thrilled to deliver a true gift to so many families this holiday season."
Payless initiated the new program in response to the economic crisis, its impact on the underprivileged, the significant need across the United States for children's shoes, and to support smaller, localized nonprofits with a tool to assist them in helping those in need this holiday season.
The company launched the program on Nov. 11 with a call to action to the non-profit community to apply to be partners in the national shoe-gifting campaign with an aim to build a network of localized organizations across the nation for immediate, direct access to kids in need. In a 10-day application period, the retailer received more than 2,500 applicants at its application website http://www.paylessgives.com/ and inquiries from more than 3,000 U.S. cities nationwide. The application period is now closed.
"We were overwhelmed by the response from the non-profit community to join us in this important effort -- to give a free pair of shoes to children in need this holiday season," said Rubel. "Our intent is to work with and through a diverse network of localized non-profits that have direct and immediate access to the children. Our chosen partners -- 630 in all -- represent every state and a diverse group of non-profits located in small towns, mid-sized and large cities, as well as rural areas so that we can blanket the nation and most effectively reach those in need."
Greater Horizons of Kansas City, also a nonprofit, served as the independent third-party to manage the selection process based on Payless' core selection criteria, which included IRC 501(c) (3) status, filing form 990, and direct access to underprivileged children in local communities during December.
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