Can you remember walking into school—first day in the fall?

Did you stand tall and confident? Did you swallow hard, with butterflies overwhelming your tummy? Or maybe you remember seeing your own child off with hope and trepidation, wondering how the day would go?

For our loving Joshua Station parents, sending kids to school with a new backpack, supplies, and items on the teacher’s list is a great way to start the year. Your donations, made through our back-to-school wish list, are a big boost for their learning.

Our Back To School Drive runs through July 31 and is entirely online through our Amazon Wishlist. Just shop and select Joshua Station BTS Gift Registry Address at checkout to send items directly to us.

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With your help, our goal is to fully stock every item on our list, so our kids can pick out what they like best. Individual options and choices create dignity and identity—key elements of Housing That Heals.

Our families know there is a wonderfully caring community rooting for them every step of the way. Your gift reminds our students that they are seen, supported, and surrounded by love. It also supports our parents’ highest aspirations.

“I’ve never learned to read past a fourth grade reading level,” says one Joshua Station parent of a ten-year-old. “It has made life so hard for me. I want more for my son. I want him to do and be better than me.”

 At Joshua Station, our motivated residents are changing the odds…

  • 48% of unhoused youth are chronically absent from school. They have barriers such as frequent school transfers, stigma, transportation, focus in class, proper nutrition, homework, and the struggle to fit in. Joshua Station youth, by contrast, have high attendance.

  • Since resource navigation can be difficult for our parents, we connect families to a wide variety of services within their school districts.

  • In addition to staff advocacy, 27% of our youth at Joshua Station are on IEP (Individualized Education Program) and EI (Early Intervention) plans to give them a leg up in their learning.

  • In partnership with Whiz Kids, we have an on-site tutor available for each individual student.

  • We work closely with McKinney-Bento liaisons and organizations such as Highly Mobile Youth services to create fair and equal opportunities for education.

  • We encourage our students to try out for sports, join clubs, and nurture friendships—which they are excited to do!

Here’s to a great school year ahead!