31-Year-Old Nonprofit Expands Relationships & Resources to Serve More Homeless Youth
Tucson, Arizona – In June 2017, Youth On Their Own (YOTO) began partnering with four local Pima County Library branches (Woods Memorial, Joel D. Valdez Main, Valencia, and Eckstrom-Columbus) to provide much-needed supplies – such as food, clothing, toiletries, and school supplies – to homeless youth during the summer. This new partnership is an extension of YOTO’s existing Caring Couriers program, which piloted during the 2016-2017 school year.
For many homeless youth throughout Pima County, accessing transportation to YOTO’s main office (on Pima/Alvernon) is not always feasible. Through YOTO’s Caring Couriers program, volunteers deliver supplies directly to homeless students at their school so that they have the items they need to be successful. However, with school being out of session for the summer, YOTO needed to find alternative locations where supplies could be dropped off. The agency is incredibly grateful for this new partnership with the Pima County Library system and hopes to expand the relationship in the coming years.
During its pilot year, YOTO’s Caring Couriers program provided much-needed services to 105 homeless youth across 38 Pima County schools. YOTO’s goal is to increase the number of students and schools served by 50% in the upcoming school year.
About Youth On Their Own
Youth On Their Own is a dropout prevention program that supports the high school graduation and continued success of homeless, unaccompanied youth in Pima County. Since 1986, the agency has helped over 16,000 homeless and at-risk teens to stay in school by providing financial assistance, basic human needs, and guidance. More information on the organization’s achievements, success stories, services provided, and key leadership can be found at http://yoto.org.
Contact
Youth On Their Own
Kristyn Conner, Director of Development
(520) 293-1136 ext. 115
[email protected]
