Center of Hope: Back to school looking different for some with help from The Salvation Army

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – August means back-to-school season, but returning to school looks different for some children in the area.

The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope wants the community to know that the face of homelessness has changed from what it once was.

Once dominated by men, local shelter leaders say Mothers and children now are some of the most common residents.

“Children staying here and their school-aged, we would then communicate through caseworkers that we have here and would communicate with that with the Richmond County schools, and they would then work out being able to be picked up here,” said Major Jonathan Raymer, Salvation Army CSRA. “We also have tutoring that happens here. So, there’s a number of different things in order to support those who are going through school from the Center of Hope.”

Richmond County Schools also has a designated school bus that picks up the children staying there and takes them to their appropriate schools. Because of the federal “Mckinney—Vento Act,” the school system provides transportation so children can stay in the same school they were in and provides tutoring services if needed after school.

“The ministry of dignity and being able to provide that dignity of a new backpack to go to school. As well, as the real practical, you need to be going to school, but the other side of that is you need to be doing that so that maybe your mom or dad or both will be able to go and maybe get employment or different appointments. Maybe do some of their casework so that they aren’t staying in our Center of Hope very long,” said Raymer.

A long-time volunteer and previous client with The Salvation Army enjoys being able to help families during this time.

“For me, it’s a blessing because when my kids were growing up, and I’m 72, so you can kind of do the kid. I didn’t have this. So, I feel like that’s a blessing,” said Pearline Harris, a volunteer.

Shelter leaders say that being able to support these families and kids has helped many change their futures with the help of the Center of Hope.

“Now got a full ride scholarship to a university up in Chicago, and so he came through several years ago, but that’s one of our success stories. We continue to see those kind of things,” said Raymer.

If you want to help volunteer or donate to the shelter you can find that on their website .

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