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Children of Shelters (COS) is a non-profit San Francisco organization
dedicated to supporting the needs of children living in our city's five
homeless shelters: Raphael House, Saint Joseph's Village, Hamilton House,
Richmond Hills, and Compass Family Center.
COS has no staff and no overhead. We are a 100 percent volunteer Board with a 501(c)(3)
status. Over 95 percent of all money received or raised through benefits and
other fundraising efforts goes directly to the needs and growth opportunities
of the children living in family shelters.
Examples of the use of funds raised includes:
- Educational scholarships and grants
- One-on-one tutoring
- Counseling and therapy
- Summer camp tuition and camp clothing
- School supplies
- Support of in-house art and computer classes
- Purchase of computer equipment and supplies
- Support of an "empowerment" program devoted to helping older children realize the power of their potential.
Children of Shelters also works throughout the year to raise community
awareness of the plight of homeless families.
Statement from Children of Shelters' Visionary
Founder
By Lois Pavlow, Founder and Board Member of Children of Shelters
Children have little or no choices in life. And, those
who live in our homeless shelters and transitional housing have even
fewer. But the reality is that every child deserves hope.
For years, I have dedicated my time and efforts to addressing
the concerns of children in our community. After I stepped down as
founder and president of the Child Abuse Prevention Society (CAPS)
Board, I began to look for new ways that I could help children in
the Bay Area.
My search led me to five family shelters in the Bay Area. Meeting
with the heads of each shelter, I learned that the children had needs
at the most basic level warm winter clothing, school supplies,
the opportunity to go to summer camp, enrichment programs, and experiences
that empower and inspire them.
Children of Shelters (COS) began as a result of these inspirational
meetings. Comprised of a group of concerned, caring and dedicated
citizens, the COS Board is dedicated to raising funds to fill the
needs of children in our homeless shelters, with the ultimate goal
of ending their plight. We are all volunteers. We have no overhead
expenses. This unique structure allows COS to direct all funds to
meet the needs of the children.
In existence for ten years, Children of Shelters has achieved
great things. COS has sent more than 500 children to summer camp,
outfitted several hundred children with new, back-to-school clothing,
provided experienced tutors for after school programs, and started
an empowerment program.
But this is only the beginning. Children of Shelters has the potential
to grow into a powerful voice for advocating the needs of the homeless
children in our community, and a devoted resource that the shelter
can count on in time of need.
I pray and hope for the day when no child is homeless, when there
is no unmet need. Until that day, Children of Shelters will continue
its mission to fill those needs.
— Lois Pavlow |
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