stdClass Object
(
    [nid] => 35027
    [vid] => 35031
    [type] => project
    [status] => 1
    [created] => 1214142414
    [changed] => 1214142579
    [comment] => 2
    [promote] => 0
    [sticky] => 0
    [revision_timestamp] => 1217536086
    [title] => Field Trip to Cape May Zoo
    [body] => 
Web site link: 
www.helping100.com
How many people are directly involved in your project? : 
0
How many people has your project helped?  : 
24
Location(s)

Northfield, NJ, 08225
See map: Google Maps
What's the problem you are trying to solve?: 
We were serving the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, which is a homeless shelter in Atlantic City. More than 600,000 families and 1.35 million children experience homelessness in America! Domestic Violence is the most prevalent cause of homelessness for women and families. The Atlantic City Rescue Mission serves over 3000 homeless people each year and houses over 225 men and single women with children each night.
Why is it important to you?: 
It was a little chilly that day outside the supermarket.  Our group, “Helping 100,” a service learning club made up of students from grades 8-11, was collecting items for our “iCare” packages for the homeless population in our area.  Excitement and satisfaction infused our little suburban, middle class group as our carts filled up with donated items and we knew we were going to fill those 100 backpacks that we purchased with our YSA grant.  Wow, we were really “doing” something.  Then something changed us, hopefully forever.  A lady came up to us, she was empty handed, no toothpaste, no shampoo, but dressed with a smile.  She quietly said, “Thank you.  I was homeless just a year ago, people need people.  It is nice to see you doing this.  Here are a few dollars; maybe it will help someone like it helped me.”  She walked away.

We were all there for different reasons, some selfish – like community service looks good on your college transcript.  The lady’s statement made us realize that our efforts were really helping someone and that someone would help others, paying it forward.  Her statements made it real.  We knew we had to do more than sit at a supermarket and collect items for the homeless, we now wanted to “know” what we could do for the people suffering almost incomprehensible destitution.  

Now our group cooks meals, serves lunch and talks to the administrators at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.  “What more can we do?” we asked.  

One lady, who works with the mothers and children who are homeless, teaching reading, writing, etc., said, “My biggest wish is for our children to experience happy moments – like field trips. Everyone remembers their school field trips, especially when their parents chaperoned.  I’d like our families here to experience the same thing.”  She told us that these memories “stick.”  “Hopefully, when they look back at their childhood, a fun trip with their mom will be what they remember, not this shelter.”

So, that is what we did.  The Do Something Grant funded one of our field trips.  Five hundred dollars will be plenty to transport our homeless families from the Atlantic City Rescue Mission to the Cape May Zoo and provide a picnic lunch for them.  There are about twenty-four women and children (all the shelter has room for) every day at the mission, some of them have fathers staying is a separate area.   


The Zoo is free, but absolutely beautiful.  The animals are well kept in large, lush areas that make the viewer excited and happy to see such amazing creatures.  The zoo has anenormous playground area where the children can run and play, a vastly different experience from their city shelter where their play area is concrete, fenced in and 12’x18’.

Helping 100 began as part of the Tiger Woods service learning club and plans to build connections to the community in ways that illuminate an important social issue – homelessness.  
What's your plan of action?: 
We wrote a Do Something Grant to pay for a trip to the Zoo for 24 homeless women and children from the AC Rescue Mission.
Start Date: 
12/28/2007
End Date: 
12/28/2007
Money Raised: 
Not applicable
    [log] => Imported at 1217536086by ds_import script.
    [format] => 0
    [uid] => 138656
    [name] => e_ferguson
    [picture] => 
    [data] => a:13:{s:15:"profile_receive";i:0;s:13:"profile_phone";s:15:"6094074000x8519";s:7:"contact";i:1;s:13:"profile_fname";s:5:"Erika";s:13:"profile_lname";s:8:"Ferguson";s:12:"profile_bday";s:9:"9/12/1992";s:14:"profile_gender";s:6:"Female";s:23:"profile_preferred_cause";s:7:"Poverty";s:18:"profile_why_do_you";s:2482:"I grew up in Atlantic City and saw homeless people every day.  I was bothered not only by witnessing their suffering, but by people’s dismissal and avoidance of their plight. I realized this reaction must stem from ignorance.  I did some research and my father, an AC Police Officer, took me to the Atlantic City Rescue Mission to speak with volunteers and homeless men, women and children. These visits made a very powerful impact on me.  When I made lunch with former homeless men and serve this lunch to homeless men, women and children, I made a personal connection to the statistics in my research. I then realized that it is imperative to dispel myths surrounding us, such as the label homeless people “crazy,” or homelessness as someone else’s problem or assert that an end to homelessness is impossible.
  
I didn’t always know the statistics on hunger and homelessness.  I didn’t always know that 40,000 children under age five die every day from hunger.  I didn’t always know that more than 600,000 families and 1.35 million children experience homelessness in AMERICA.  I didn’t always know that 13 million children go to bed hungry EVERY NIGHT in AMERICA!  While it is important to know all of these facts, how can anyone walk by a homeless person, who is desolate, carrying all of their soiled, broken possessions in a sack, not SEE that they need to help?  It tears my heart out, I cry, the image is burned into my mind.  I must help.  These facts and my experiences motivate me to take action.  I will continue to do so until hunger and homelessness ends.  What motivates me is the knowledge that there is enough food in this world to feed everyone.  What motivates me is that all people deserve to be safe and have shelter.  

I knew that I couldn’t change the world by myself.  At 14, I founded Helping 100.  Helping 100 is made up of a diverse group of dedicated and enthusiastic young people with a mission to get others involved!  Our projects are unique in that they embrace the idea that youth have the power to change the future.  

My entire future goals have been influence by my experiences with Helping 100.  I plan on studying International Studies in College and will spend at least two years in the Peace Corps between undergraduate and graduate work.  I know that in order to make change, a person needs to be knowledgeable and passionate about their cause.  The more I learn and experience, the more effective I will become.
";s:2:"op";s:6:"Submit";s:8:"category";s:20:"Personal Information";s:10:"form_token";s:32:"26a0312a3f6aa0f5b8af7d78af57969f";s:7:"form_id";s:24:"dosomething_profile_form";}
    [path] => project/field-trip-cape-may-zoo
    [og_groups] => Array
        (
            [0] => 329877
        )

    [og_groups_both] => Array
        (
            [329877] => Mainland Regional High School Do Something Club: Helping 100
        )

    [og_public] => 1
    [tags] => 
    [nodewords] => Array
        (
        )

    [last_comment_timestamp] => 1217536086
    [last_comment_name] => 
    [comment_count] => 0
    [taxonomy] => Array
        (
        )

    [field_type_of_project] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => 
                    [view] => 
                )

        )

    [field_inspired_by_dosomething] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => 
                    [view] => 
                )

        )

    [field_project_photo] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [fid] => 2889
                    [title] => 
                    [alt] => 100_0225.jpg
                    [nid] => 35027
                    [filename] => 100_0225.jpg
                    [filepath] => files/project_photos/100_0225.jpg
                    [filemime] => image/jpeg
                    [filesize] => 480089
                    [view] => 
                )

            [1] => Array
                (
                    [fid] => 3167
                    [title] => 
                    [alt] => 100_0228.jpg
                    [nid] => 35027
                    [filename] => 100_0228.jpg
                    [filepath] => files/project_photos/100_0228.jpg
                    [filemime] => image/jpeg
                    [filesize] => 494839
                    [view] => 
                )

            [2] => Array
                (
                    [fid] => 3453
                    [title] => 
                    [alt] => 100_0233.jpg
                    [nid] => 35027
                    [filename] => 100_0233.jpg
                    [filepath] => files/project_photos/100_0233.jpg
                    [filemime] => image/jpeg
                    [filesize] => 397788
                    [view] => 
                )

            [3] => Array
                (
                    [fid] => 3469
                    [title] => 
                    [alt] => 100_0234.jpg
                    [nid] => 35027
                    [filename] => 100_0234.jpg
                    [filepath] => files/project_photos/100_0234.jpg
                    [filemime] => image/jpeg
                    [filesize] => 454948
                    [view] => 
                )

            [4] => Array
                (
                    [fid] => 3742
                    [title] => 
                    [alt] => 100_0238.jpg
                    [nid] => 35027
                    [filename] => 100_0238.jpg
                    [filepath] => files/project_photos/100_0238.jpg
                    [filemime] => image/jpeg
                    [filesize] => 465104
                    [view] => 
                )

        )

    [field_embedded_video] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [embed] => 
                    [value] => 
                    [provider] => 
                    [data] => Array
                        (
                            [emthumb] => Array
                                (
                                )

                        )

                    [view] => 
                )

        )

    [field_website_link] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => www.helping100.com
                    [view] => www.helping100.com
                )

        )

    [field_project_age] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => 
                    [view] => 
                )

        )

    [field_dosomething_award_winner] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => 
                    [view] => 
                )

        )

    [field_related_action_guide] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [nid] => 0
                    [view] => 
                )

        )

    [field_hours_volunteered] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => 
                    [view] => 
                )

        )

    [field_essay_see_it] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => We were serving the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, which is a homeless shelter in Atlantic City. More than 600,000 families and 1.35 million children experience homelessness in America! Domestic Violence is the most prevalent cause of homelessness for women and families. The Atlantic City Rescue Mission serves over 3000 homeless people each year and houses over 225 men and single women with children each night.
                    [view] => We were serving the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, which is a homeless shelter in Atlantic City. More than 600,000 families and 1.35 million children experience homelessness in America! Domestic Violence is the most prevalent cause of homelessness for women and families. The Atlantic City Rescue Mission serves over 3000 homeless people each year and houses over 225 men and single women with children each night.
                )

        )

    [field_essay_believe_it] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => It was a little chilly that day outside the supermarket.  Our group, “Helping 100,” a service learning club made up of students from grades 8-11, was collecting items for our “iCare” packages for the homeless population in our area.  Excitement and satisfaction infused our little suburban, middle class group as our carts filled up with donated items and we knew we were going to fill those 100 backpacks that we purchased with our YSA grant.  Wow, we were really “doing” something.  Then something changed us, hopefully forever.  A lady came up to us, she was empty handed, no toothpaste, no shampoo, but dressed with a smile.  She quietly said, “Thank you.  I was homeless just a year ago, people need people.  It is nice to see you doing this.  Here are a few dollars; maybe it will help someone like it helped me.”  She walked away.

We were all there for different reasons, some selfish – like community service looks good on your college transcript.  The lady’s statement made us realize that our efforts were really helping someone and that someone would help others, paying it forward.  Her statements made it real.  We knew we had to do more than sit at a supermarket and collect items for the homeless, we now wanted to “know” what we could do for the people suffering almost incomprehensible destitution.  

Now our group cooks meals, serves lunch and talks to the administrators at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.  “What more can we do?” we asked.  

One lady, who works with the mothers and children who are homeless, teaching reading, writing, etc., said, “My biggest wish is for our children to experience happy moments – like field trips. Everyone remembers their school field trips, especially when their parents chaperoned.  I’d like our families here to experience the same thing.”  She told us that these memories “stick.”  “Hopefully, when they look back at their childhood, a fun trip with their mom will be what they remember, not this shelter.”

So, that is what we did.  The Do Something Grant funded one of our field trips.  Five hundred dollars will be plenty to transport our homeless families from the Atlantic City Rescue Mission to the Cape May Zoo and provide a picnic lunch for them.  There are about twenty-four women and children (all the shelter has room for) every day at the mission, some of them have fathers staying is a separate area.   


The Zoo is free, but absolutely beautiful.  The animals are well kept in large, lush areas that make the viewer excited and happy to see such amazing creatures.  The zoo has anenormous playground area where the children can run and play, a vastly different experience from their city shelter where their play area is concrete, fenced in and 12’x18’.

Helping 100 began as part of the Tiger Woods service learning club and plans to build connections to the community in ways that illuminate an important social issue – homelessness.  
                    [view] => It was a little chilly that day outside the supermarket.  Our group, “Helping 100,” a service learning club made up of students from grades 8-11, was collecting items for our “iCare” packages for the homeless population in our area.  Excitement and satisfaction infused our little suburban, middle class group as our carts filled up with donated items and we knew we were going to fill those 100 backpacks that we purchased with our YSA grant.  Wow, we were really “doing” something.  Then something changed us, hopefully forever.  A lady came up to us, she was empty handed, no toothpaste, no shampoo, but dressed with a smile.  She quietly said, “Thank you.  I was homeless just a year ago, people need people.  It is nice to see you doing this.  Here are a few dollars; maybe it will help someone like it helped me.”  She walked away.

We were all there for different reasons, some selfish – like community service looks good on your college transcript.  The lady’s statement made us realize that our efforts were really helping someone and that someone would help others, paying it forward.  Her statements made it real.  We knew we had to do more than sit at a supermarket and collect items for the homeless, we now wanted to “know” what we could do for the people suffering almost incomprehensible destitution.  

Now our group cooks meals, serves lunch and talks to the administrators at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.  “What more can we do?” we asked.  

One lady, who works with the mothers and children who are homeless, teaching reading, writing, etc., said, “My biggest wish is for our children to experience happy moments – like field trips. Everyone remembers their school field trips, especially when their parents chaperoned.  I’d like our families here to experience the same thing.”  She told us that these memories “stick.”  “Hopefully, when they look back at their childhood, a fun trip with their mom will be what they remember, not this shelter.”

So, that is what we did.  The Do Something Grant funded one of our field trips.  Five hundred dollars will be plenty to transport our homeless families from the Atlantic City Rescue Mission to the Cape May Zoo and provide a picnic lunch for them.  There are about twenty-four women and children (all the shelter has room for) every day at the mission, some of them have fathers staying is a separate area.   


The Zoo is free, but absolutely beautiful.  The animals are well kept in large, lush areas that make the viewer excited and happy to see such amazing creatures.  The zoo has anenormous playground area where the children can run and play, a vastly different experience from their city shelter where their play area is concrete, fenced in and 12’x18’.

Helping 100 began as part of the Tiger Woods service learning club and plans to build connections to the community in ways that illuminate an important social issue – homelessness.  
                )

        )

    [field_start_date] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => 2007-12-28T00:00:00
                    [view] => 12/28/2007
                )

        )

    [field_essay_build_it] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => We wrote a Do Something Grant to pay for a trip to the Zoo for 24 homeless women and children from the AC Rescue Mission.
                    [view] => We wrote a Do Something Grant to pay for a trip to the Zoo for 24 homeless women and children from the AC Rescue Mission.
                )

        )

    [field_end_date] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => 2007-12-28T00:00:00
                    [view] => 12/28/2007
                )

        )

    [field_others_involved] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => 
                    [format] => 0
                    [view] => 
                )

        )

    [field_money_raised] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => Not applicable
                    [view] => Not applicable
                )

        )

    [field_num_people_involved] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => 0
                    [view] => 0
                )

        )

    [field_num_people_inspired] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => 
                    [view] => 
                )

        )

    [field_num_people_impacted] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => 24
                    [view] => 24
                )

        )

    [locations] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [eid] => 35031
                    [lid] => 11812
                    [type] => node
                    [name] => 
                    [street] => 
                    [additional] => 
                    [city] => Northfield
                    [province] => NJ
                    [postal_code] => 08225
                    [country] => us
                    [latitude] => 39.370083
                    [longitude] => -74.552110
                    [source] => 2
                    [is_primary] => 0
                    [lat] => 39.370083
                    [lon] => -74.552110
                )

        )

    [location] => Array
        (
            [eid] => 35031
            [lid] => 11812
            [type] => node
            [name] => 
            [street] => 
            [additional] => 
            [city] => Northfield
            [province] => NJ
            [postal_code] => 08225
            [country] => us
            [latitude] => 39.370083
            [longitude] => -74.552110
            [source] => 2
            [is_primary] => 0
            [lat] => 39.370083
            [lon] => -74.552110
        )

    [readmore] => 
    [content] => Array
        (
            [field_type_of_project] => Array
                (
                    [#access] => 1
                    [#value] => 
                    [#weight] => -7
                    [#printed] => 1
                )

            [field_inspired_by_dosomething] => Array
                (
                    [#access] => 1
                    [#value] => 
                    [#weight] => -6
                    [#printed] => 1
                )

            [field_website_link] => Array
                (
                    [#access] => 1
                    [#value] => 
Web site link: 
www.helping100.com
                    [#weight] => -4
                    [#printed] => 1
                )

            [field_embedded_video] => Array
                (
                    [#access] => 1
                    [#value] => 
                    [#weight] => -4
                    [#printed] => 1
                )

            [field_project_photo] => Array
                (
                    [#access] => 1
                    [#value] => 
                    [#weight] => -4
                    [#printed] => 1
                )

            [field_dosomething_award_winner] => Array
                (
                    [#access] => 1
                    [#value] => 
                    [#weight] => -2
                    [#printed] => 1
                )

            [field_project_age] => Array
                (
                    [#access] => 1
                    [#value] => 
                    [#weight] => -2
                    [#printed] => 1
                )

            [field_related_campaign] => Array
                (
                    [#access] => 1
                    [#value] => 
                    [#weight] => -1
                    [#printed] => 1
                )

            [field_related_action_guide] => Array
                (
                    [#access] => 1
                    [#value] => 
                    [#weight] => -1
                    [#printed] => 1
                )

            [group_project_numbers] => Array
                (
                    [#title] => 
                    [#weight] => 0
                    [#attributes] => Array
                        (
                            [class] => fieldgroup group-project-numbers
                        )

                    [#description] => 
                    [field_num_people_involved] => Array
                        (
                            [#access] => 1
                            [#value] => 
How many people are directly involved in your project? : 
0
                            [#weight] => 5
                            [#printed] => 1
                        )

                    [field_num_people_inspired] => Array
                        (
                            [#access] => 1
                            [#value] => 
                            [#weight] => 6
                            [#printed] => 1
                        )

                    [field_num_people_impacted] => Array
                        (
                            [#access] => 1
                            [#value] => 
How many people has your project helped?  : 
24
                            [#weight] => 7
                            [#printed] => 1
                        )

                    [#children] => 
How many people are directly involved in your project? : 
0
How many people has your project helped?  : 
24
                    [#printed] => 1
                )

            [locations] => Array
                (
                    [#value] => 
Location(s)

Northfield, NJ, 08225
See map: Google Maps
                    [#printed] => 1
                )

            [body] => Array
                (
                    [#weight] => 0
                    [#value] => 
                    [#printed] => 1
                )

            [group_explain_your_project] => Array
                (
                    [field_essay_see_it] => Array
                        (
                            [#access] => 1
                            [#value] => 
What's the problem you are trying to solve?: 
We were serving the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, which is a homeless shelter in Atlantic City. More than 600,000 families and 1.35 million children experience homelessness in America! Domestic Violence is the most prevalent cause of homelessness for women and families. The Atlantic City Rescue Mission serves over 3000 homeless people each year and houses over 225 men and single women with children each night.
                            [#weight] => 0
                            [#printed] => 1
                        )

                    [#title] => 
                    [#attributes] => Array
                        (
                            [class] => fieldgroup group-explain-your-project
                        )

                    [#description] => 
                    [#weight] => 1
                    [field_essay_believe_it] => Array
                        (
                            [#access] => 1
                            [#value] => 
Why is it important to you?: 
It was a little chilly that day outside the supermarket.  Our group, “Helping 100,” a service learning club made up of students from grades 8-11, was collecting items for our “iCare” packages for the homeless population in our area.  Excitement and satisfaction infused our little suburban, middle class group as our carts filled up with donated items and we knew we were going to fill those 100 backpacks that we purchased with our YSA grant.  Wow, we were really “doing” something.  Then something changed us, hopefully forever.  A lady came up to us, she was empty handed, no toothpaste, no shampoo, but dressed with a smile.  She quietly said, “Thank you.  I was homeless just a year ago, people need people.  It is nice to see you doing this.  Here are a few dollars; maybe it will help someone like it helped me.”  She walked away.

We were all there for different reasons, some selfish – like community service looks good on your college transcript.  The lady’s statement made us realize that our efforts were really helping someone and that someone would help others, paying it forward.  Her statements made it real.  We knew we had to do more than sit at a supermarket and collect items for the homeless, we now wanted to “know” what we could do for the people suffering almost incomprehensible destitution.  

Now our group cooks meals, serves lunch and talks to the administrators at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.  “What more can we do?” we asked.  

One lady, who works with the mothers and children who are homeless, teaching reading, writing, etc., said, “My biggest wish is for our children to experience happy moments – like field trips. Everyone remembers their school field trips, especially when their parents chaperoned.  I’d like our families here to experience the same thing.”  She told us that these memories “stick.”  “Hopefully, when they look back at their childhood, a fun trip with their mom will be what they remember, not this shelter.”

So, that is what we did.  The Do Something Grant funded one of our field trips.  Five hundred dollars will be plenty to transport our homeless families from the Atlantic City Rescue Mission to the Cape May Zoo and provide a picnic lunch for them.  There are about twenty-four women and children (all the shelter has room for) every day at the mission, some of them have fathers staying is a separate area.   


The Zoo is free, but absolutely beautiful.  The animals are well kept in large, lush areas that make the viewer excited and happy to see such amazing creatures.  The zoo has anenormous playground area where the children can run and play, a vastly different experience from their city shelter where their play area is concrete, fenced in and 12’x18’.

Helping 100 began as part of the Tiger Woods service learning club and plans to build connections to the community in ways that illuminate an important social issue – homelessness.  
                            [#weight] => 1
                            [#printed] => 1
                        )

                    [field_essay_build_it] => Array
                        (
                            [#access] => 1
                            [#value] => 
What's your plan of action?: 
We wrote a Do Something Grant to pay for a trip to the Zoo for 24 homeless women and children from the AC Rescue Mission.
                            [#weight] => 2
                            [#printed] => 1
                        )

                    [field_others_involved] => Array
                        (
                            [#access] => 1
                            [#value] => 
                            [#weight] => 3
                            [#printed] => 1
                        )

                    [#children] => 
What's the problem you are trying to solve?: 
We were serving the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, which is a homeless shelter in Atlantic City. More than 600,000 families and 1.35 million children experience homelessness in America! Domestic Violence is the most prevalent cause of homelessness for women and families. The Atlantic City Rescue Mission serves over 3000 homeless people each year and houses over 225 men and single women with children each night.
Why is it important to you?: 
It was a little chilly that day outside the supermarket.  Our group, “Helping 100,” a service learning club made up of students from grades 8-11, was collecting items for our “iCare” packages for the homeless population in our area.  Excitement and satisfaction infused our little suburban, middle class group as our carts filled up with donated items and we knew we were going to fill those 100 backpacks that we purchased with our YSA grant.  Wow, we were really “doing” something.  Then something changed us, hopefully forever.  A lady came up to us, she was empty handed, no toothpaste, no shampoo, but dressed with a smile.  She quietly said, “Thank you.  I was homeless just a year ago, people need people.  It is nice to see you doing this.  Here are a few dollars; maybe it will help someone like it helped me.”  She walked away.

We were all there for different reasons, some selfish – like community service looks good on your college transcript.  The lady’s statement made us realize that our efforts were really helping someone and that someone would help others, paying it forward.  Her statements made it real.  We knew we had to do more than sit at a supermarket and collect items for the homeless, we now wanted to “know” what we could do for the people suffering almost incomprehensible destitution.  

Now our group cooks meals, serves lunch and talks to the administrators at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.  “What more can we do?” we asked.  

One lady, who works with the mothers and children who are homeless, teaching reading, writing, etc., said, “My biggest wish is for our children to experience happy moments – like field trips. Everyone remembers their school field trips, especially when their parents chaperoned.  I’d like our families here to experience the same thing.”  She told us that these memories “stick.”  “Hopefully, when they look back at their childhood, a fun trip with their mom will be what they remember, not this shelter.”

So, that is what we did.  The Do Something Grant funded one of our field trips.  Five hundred dollars will be plenty to transport our homeless families from the Atlantic City Rescue Mission to the Cape May Zoo and provide a picnic lunch for them.  There are about twenty-four women and children (all the shelter has room for) every day at the mission, some of them have fathers staying is a separate area.   


The Zoo is free, but absolutely beautiful.  The animals are well kept in large, lush areas that make the viewer excited and happy to see such amazing creatures.  The zoo has anenormous playground area where the children can run and play, a vastly different experience from their city shelter where their play area is concrete, fenced in and 12’x18’.

Helping 100 began as part of the Tiger Woods service learning club and plans to build connections to the community in ways that illuminate an important social issue – homelessness.  
What's your plan of action?: 
We wrote a Do Something Grant to pay for a trip to the Zoo for 24 homeless women and children from the AC Rescue Mission.
                    [#printed] => 1
                )

            [group_the_details] => Array
                (
                    [field_hours_volunteered] => Array
                        (
                            [#access] => 1
                            [#value] => 
                            [#weight] => 0
                            [#printed] => 1
                        )

                    [#title] => 
                    [#attributes] => Array
                        (
                            [class] => fieldgroup group-the-details
                        )

                    [#description] => 
                    [#weight] => 2
                    [field_start_date] => Array
                        (
                            [#access] => 1
                            [#value] => 
Start Date: 
12/28/2007
                            [#weight] => 2
                            [#printed] => 1
                        )

                    [field_end_date] => Array
                        (
                            [#access] => 1
                            [#value] => 
End Date: 
12/28/2007
                            [#weight] => 3
                            [#printed] => 1
                        )

                    [field_money_raised] => Array
                        (
                            [#access] => 1
                            [#value] => 
Money Raised: 
Not applicable
                            [#weight] => 4
                            [#printed] => 1
                        )

                    [#children] => 
Start Date: 
12/28/2007
End Date: 
12/28/2007
Money Raised: 
Not applicable
                    [#printed] => 1
                )

            [#children] => 
Web site link: 
www.helping100.com
How many people are directly involved in your project? : 
0
How many people has your project helped?  : 
24
Location(s)

Northfield, NJ, 08225
See map: Google Maps
What's the problem you are trying to solve?: 
We were serving the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, which is a homeless shelter in Atlantic City. More than 600,000 families and 1.35 million children experience homelessness in America! Domestic Violence is the most prevalent cause of homelessness for women and families. The Atlantic City Rescue Mission serves over 3000 homeless people each year and houses over 225 men and single women with children each night.
Why is it important to you?: 
It was a little chilly that day outside the supermarket.  Our group, “Helping 100,” a service learning club made up of students from grades 8-11, was collecting items for our “iCare” packages for the homeless population in our area.  Excitement and satisfaction infused our little suburban, middle class group as our carts filled up with donated items and we knew we were going to fill those 100 backpacks that we purchased with our YSA grant.  Wow, we were really “doing” something.  Then something changed us, hopefully forever.  A lady came up to us, she was empty handed, no toothpaste, no shampoo, but dressed with a smile.  She quietly said, “Thank you.  I was homeless just a year ago, people need people.  It is nice to see you doing this.  Here are a few dollars; maybe it will help someone like it helped me.”  She walked away.

We were all there for different reasons, some selfish – like community service looks good on your college transcript.  The lady’s statement made us realize that our efforts were really helping someone and that someone would help others, paying it forward.  Her statements made it real.  We knew we had to do more than sit at a supermarket and collect items for the homeless, we now wanted to “know” what we could do for the people suffering almost incomprehensible destitution.  

Now our group cooks meals, serves lunch and talks to the administrators at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.  “What more can we do?” we asked.  

One lady, who works with the mothers and children who are homeless, teaching reading, writing, etc., said, “My biggest wish is for our children to experience happy moments – like field trips. Everyone remembers their school field trips, especially when their parents chaperoned.  I’d like our families here to experience the same thing.”  She told us that these memories “stick.”  “Hopefully, when they look back at their childhood, a fun trip with their mom will be what they remember, not this shelter.”

So, that is what we did.  The Do Something Grant funded one of our field trips.  Five hundred dollars will be plenty to transport our homeless families from the Atlantic City Rescue Mission to the Cape May Zoo and provide a picnic lunch for them.  There are about twenty-four women and children (all the shelter has room for) every day at the mission, some of them have fathers staying is a separate area.   


The Zoo is free, but absolutely beautiful.  The animals are well kept in large, lush areas that make the viewer excited and happy to see such amazing creatures.  The zoo has anenormous playground area where the children can run and play, a vastly different experience from their city shelter where their play area is concrete, fenced in and 12’x18’.

Helping 100 began as part of the Tiger Woods service learning club and plans to build connections to the community in ways that illuminate an important social issue – homelessness.  
What's your plan of action?: 
We wrote a Do Something Grant to pay for a trip to the Zoo for 24 homeless women and children from the AC Rescue Mission.
Start Date: 
12/28/2007
End Date: 
12/28/2007
Money Raised: 
Not applicable
            [#printed] => 1
        )

    [links] => Array
        (
            [comment_forbidden] => Array
                (
                    [title] => Login or register to post comments
                    [html] => 1
                )

            [forward_links] => Array
                (
                    [title] => Email this page
                    [href] => forward
                    [html] => 
                    [attributes] => Array
                        (
                            [title] => Forward this page to a friend
                            [class] => forward-page
                        )

                    [query] => path=node/35027
                )

        )

)