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There are many vulnerable populations of youth. Two groups in Freemont County, Lander Wyoming are the Freemont County Girls Group Home and high school girls attending the Pathfinder alternative high school.
Fremont County Group Homes (FCGH) provides the Lander Group Home for Girls for youth who are in need of short-term emergency shelter and care due to a crisis situation. The girls often arrive at the home on very short notice and with very few belongings. Many times they come from low-income families with substance abuse issues, unstable families that have fallen apart, or families with legal and social conflicts and a lack of other familial support. Some girls have social and emotional issues. Pathfinder High School is an alternative High School that is part of the Freemont County School District #1 and includes Lander, Hudson, Jeffery City, Atlantic City, and Ft. Washakie. Students attending Pathfinder may not have been successful in traditional educational programs and are often high-risk. Students may not have strong family support systems. Girls at the Group Home and Pathfinder include students from the Native American population and reservations in Freemont County.
The Counselor at Pathfinder and House/Program Manager at the Freemont County Girls' Home identified the needs for the program. In the case of both programs the girls often feel left out and forgotten. A significant part of their need is to understand that others care about them. Girls at Pathfinder High School also come to school hungry and there is a need for food for immediate consumptions. They also need hygiene items. The main focus for girls at the Group Home is comfort, understanding and being able to keep items with them if they are moved from place-to-place. They may arrive with few, if any, personal possessions.
This project will provide either backpacks or duffle bags filled with items to provide comfort and/or give support for basic needs. This will include items like: hygiene, including menstrual products, books/journals, small craft items such as pencils/markers/pens, fleece blanket, stuffed animal, socks, lotion, and hair styling items. The Girls Home needs about 50 bags and the Pathfinder High School needs about 15 per year.
The project will begin upon funding through the District Grant. The grant funds and club funds will be used to purchase the bags and the content. Rotarians will be involved in purchasing supplies and preparing bags. They will also deliver bags to both organizations for distribution.
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