While the stereotypes of homeless people still bring to mind middle-aged men as the only victims, Project Night Night understands the faces of America’s homeless defy the stock description. Men, women and children also find themselves homeless, relying on the assistance of shelters to get them by. In fact, nearly 300,000 families are estimated homeless in the United States at any given time. Since 2005, Project Night Night has been reaching out to the youngest victims of this social crisis, providing them comfort and hope while also raising awareness for their plight.

Founded in the San Francisco Bay Area by Kendra Stitt Robins, Project Night Night is a nonprofit organization that reaches out directly to homeless youngsters throughout the United States. Operating out of a network of homeless shelters, the organization provides children with a care package of sorts to help them enjoy a more comfortable night’s sleep when they have no home to call their own. The care packages are designed to bring a semblance of security and normalcy into the lives of children who have seen their entire world turn upside down.

Project Night Night’s primary tool for reaching out is its Night Night Package. These care packages are geared to youngsters from infants through the age of 10. Each tote bag includes a security blanket, a stuffed animal and an age-appropriate book. These totes, complete with the comfort items, are given out at homeless shelters throughout the United States.

From its inception through 2008, Project Night Night has achieved some very notable accomplishment, including:

Reaching out to
more than 20,000 children a year through its Night Night Packages;

Distributing more than 38,000 children’s books directly into the hands of youngsters;

Repurposing more than 25,000 gently used books and stuffed animals for the program;

Providing a way for volunteers to get active in their own communities.

Project Night Night provides a number of ways for people to get involved. While many volunteer positions are limited to the San Francisco area, there are other opportunities for assistance. Some ways that people can reach out and help homeless children through Project Night Night include:

Sponsoring a tote – It costs an estimated $20 to put together a tote. Anyone anywhere can help put a properly stuffed tote into the hands of a homeless child by making a contribution to Project Night Night.

Donating items – Project Night Night accepts new stuffed animals and security blankets. It has a number of locations these items can be shipped directly to. The organization also accepts store gift cards to enable the purchase of appropriate children’s books, blankets and stuffed animals. In addition, new or gently used books can also be donated directly to Project Night Night.

Sponsoring events – Supporters throughout the country can sponsor Project Night Night events to raise money and/or collect items for the charity. The organization will provide a number of tools to help make the event a success.

Bringing attention to the plight of homeless children in America, Project Night Night is always in need of financial assistance and donations of goods. To learn more about this nonprofit organization and how to help out on the local level, visit www.projectnightnight.org.