Last year the organization Washington Kids in Transition provided clothing and food to 125 homeless Edmonds School District students who qualified for the McKinney Vento program. Washington Kids in Transition is an organization inspired by the Facebook group Edmonds Moms.

McKinney Vento refers to the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, which was the United States’ first significant legislation enacted to provide administrative liaison for community-sponsored homeless shelter programs. Children qualify for the program through their schools or school district office.

This year, the Edmonds School District begins the academic year with 181 students qualifying for the McKinney-Vento program, according to the director of Washington Kids in Transition, Kim Gorney.

Washington Kids in Transition is requesting community assistance to stock the organization’s emergency clothes closet in order to clothe homeless kids and get them ready for autumn and winter weather.

Drop-off bins for clothing are located throughout the Edmonds area at these locations:

· Revelations Yogurt, 527 Main St.;
· Insurance Services Group at the corner of Main Street and 6th Avenue
· Zinc Interiors, 102 3rd Ave. S.; and
· Brier Kindercare, 20420 Larch Way, Lynnwood.

The organization stocks its inventory with needed items in these categories:

Clothing and personal grooming:
Boys and girls socks
Boys and girls underwear and t-shirts
Shampoo and conditioner
Soap and deodorant
Hairbrushes and hair ties
Combs
Razors
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Laundry soap

School supplies:
Paper, pencils and pens

Grocery and food items:
Top Ramen
Pasta bowls
Soup
Granola bars
Fruit snacks
Protein packs
Oatmeal
Juice
 boxes
Family grab-and-go food bags
Gift cards to local grocery stores and gas stations
Pizza gift cards (for the emergency motel room recipients)

Washington Kids In Transition is also seeking monetary donations and has established a direct link to PayPal. Please consider making a donation to the organization’s emergency closets, emergency motel voucher program or their after school bus snack program.

If you have questions about how to volunteer or donate to Washington Kids in Transition, contact Kim Gorney by calling 206-697-3385.