The goal is twofold: to raise awareness and to mobilize resources around that need. Current campaigns: School Readiness and Supporting Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
School Readiness: if children are going to school without the necessary supplies, they are not coming to school prepared to be active learners, and their academic success becomes an uphill battle. In August of 2016, we hosted
a pop-up school supply store at Black Hawk Middle School. Black Hawk Middle School was chosen because 65% of its student body lives below the poverty line, a 4% increase from the previous year. At this pop-up store, students were able to shop for the school supplies they needed the most, at no cost to them. Leftover supplies from the pop-up store were donated to Glendale Elementary School, Toki Middle School, One City Early Leaning Center, and the Transition Education Program. The pop-up school supply store was replicated in August of 2017, and throughout the 2017/18 school year, the Madison Needs Network will stay in touch with local schools and will continue to provide supplies where they are needed the most. Supporting Individuals Experiencing Homelessness: the Madison Needs Network hosts an annual Holiday party for families at Madison's only comprehensive day shelter, The Beacon. A hot breakfast and gifts for children are provided - plus a visit from Santa! Additionally, the Madison Needs Network responds to requests from other local nonprofits that work directly with the homeless population. Past donations as a result of these requests include a monetary donation pay for hotel rooms on some of the coldest nights of the year, heavy-duty blankets, and brown bag dinners that are distributed via street outreach
For more information on our campaigns, including information how to get involved, please visit our website: www.madisonneedsnetwork.org.
