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Children’s shelter short funds to build
By Stephanie Flemmons, Staff Writer
Plano’s planned children’s shelter was forced to postpone its spring opening date due to a $500,000 shortfall.
Patsy McGeehon, My Friend’s House shelter director, said due to the declining economy, gifts and grants that CITY House staff thought they would receive did not come through or were not the extent of what they thought. She said the projected opening date of April 1 is now postponed to an unknown later date.
“We are at a critical point of construction, but we can’t start a job until we have the funding.” McGeehon said. “We are making cuts to the overall project and focusing on what we have to have to get our license.”
“There were more kids removed from their home in 2007 compared to any other county in the state,” Rodgers said. “My Friends House is the only shelter in North Texas to take special needs kids, which is a big neglect area.”
My Friend’s House will provide emergency shelter for children ages newborn to 9-years-olds that have been removed from their homes due to abuse, abandonment or neglect.
McGeehon said in June alone about 230 children were removed from their homes and only about 30 were able to stay inside the county.
“Children are already traumatized about the removal, but even more traumatized when they are placed in an unfamiliar area, moved into a new school district or split from their siblings McGeehon said. “If we can keep them inside Collin County for 90 days at My Friend’s House, it will give CPS more time to find more permanent housing.”
CITY House staff are asking for community help to complete construction and furnish the home.
“We had a 7-year-old little girl collect toys and a couple of hundred dollars and she brought it into us,” Rodgers said. “We also had a little boy and his dad donate $100. No donation is ever too small. They can go toward sheets, toys or formula.”
Rodgers said it takes $1,200 to supply enough bedroom furniture for two children.
Due to licensing requirements, Rodgers said they are under restrictions as to what type of beds and cribs they are required to buy.
CITY House has provided a Wish List including exact items they need.
Registries
Toys R Us www.toysrus.com
Babies R Us www.babiesrus.com
JC Penney www.jcpenney.com
Bed, Bath and Beyond www.bedbathandbeyond.com
Target www.target.com
Lakeshore Learning Materials www.lakeshorelearning.com
Lowes www.lowes.com
Gift Cards
Rooms To Go
JC Penney
Toys R Us
Bed Bath and Beyond
Target
Home Depot & Lowes
Walmart
Office Depot, Office Max & Staples
Visa and Master Card
Items Still Needed
16 Twin Mattresses and Box Springs
Nine New Desk Top Computers
Six Cracker Barrel Outdoor Rocking Chairs (natural)
Four 27-inch Flat Screen TVs for infant/toddler areas
Three Cribs Morgan Crib in Cherry (JC Penny registry)
16 Twin Beds Oberon Bunk Beds Cherry (Rooms To Go Kids)
Six Glider Rocking Chairs
Four New Laptop Computers
10 Wall mount CD players
As a reminder City House is a non profit organization and is therefore tax exempt. If you are wishing to purchase furniture please contact Lisa Rodgers at 972-424-4626 x503.
Contact Stephanie Flemmons at sflemmons@acnpapers.com
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
Joyce wrote on Mar 20, 2009 1:41 AM:
" I am not sure where this information on the number of children coming into custody is coming from. The number of children coming into care is way down and msy be at the lowest it has ever been. The emphasis is on keeping the children in the home or with relatives or friends of the family, as it should be.. There are many openings in foster homes available for children who are brought into care. many foster homes have not had placements in months or perhaps not had any placements since completeing training. So where we may need more shelters for older children, we certainly have plenty of homes open for babies and young people. As a foster parent of 25 years I would be deeply sadden to see a little one go into a shelter instead of a loving family inviroment. "
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