Be There: Students help hundreds in Homeless Not Helpless Initia - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

Be There: Students help hundreds in Homeless Not Helpless Initiative

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By Mackenzie Zaragoza - bio | email
COLUMBUS, GA -

After about a month of collecting, students from the Muscogee County School District were finally able to give away items like food and clothing to help those in need in our community.

Students from the Muscogee County School District gathered at the Columbus Library off Macon Road on Thursday to celebrate collecting piles of coats, hats, and gloves and dozens of boxes of  canned food for Homeless Not Helpless Initiative.

"It was a day to help the homeless and to give them a chance to have food and have hygiene products and things that they need," said 8th grade student April Ross.

It was also a day to help other students. Officials say there are more than 1,500 homeless and unaccompanied youth in the school district. Jennifer Ogletree, the Homeless Outreach Specialist with the school system, thanked the students at the collection event on Thursday for their generosity.

"Depending on how much we keep within our system, we will be helping hundreds. Maybe close to 200 to 300 families," said Ogletree.

Some of the items were also donated to local outreach organizations. Sylvia Dunn with Damascus Way says this will go to the 17 kids and their families they are helping right now.

"To see all the children and their participation, it is a blessing and it is just seeing people giving hope to one another," said Dunn.

Kendrick High School Senior Keven Acevedo says he had no idea so many students needed help.

"It really opened my eyes and really gave me a better, I guess you can say, point of view on what is really going on outside those doors whether it is high school, middle school, or elementary school," said Acevedo.

Copyright 2012 WTVM. All rights reserved.

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