Forsaken Generation

Jacksonville Volunteer Opportunities

Start by doing just one thing. An hour a week can make a HUGE difference in the life of a homeless child. 

Forsaken Generation currently works to support the efforts of 10 organizations in Jacksonville working with homeless children. To learn more click here.

Here are a few Volunteer Opportunities:

1.       Adopt a Room - Each year thousands of women and children come seeking help after a hardship of some sort.  When they arrive – either from other shelters or off the streets, they usually just have the clothes on their backs.  While the shelters we work with can provide them with a room, with clothes, with the security they hunger for and with a chance for a new life, they cannot provide them with the basic items they need to make their new ‘home’ feel like a ‘home’.  Our Adopt a Room program was designed to bring volunteers into the shelters to create a “home” environment for the women and children entering the program.  Items such as sheets, pillows, blankets, towels and washcloths, personal toiletry items, a table lamp and an alarm clock make all the difference in the world to a family that enters a facility with nothing but the clothes on her back. To learn more about adopting a room, check out this video, click here.

2.       Mentoring – Many homeless children do not have a positive adult role model in their lives. Many have been abandoned and abused. At its most basic level, mentoring helps because it guarantees a young person that there is someone who cares about them. A child is not alone in dealing with day-to-day worries. Think back. Did you know how to study for a test or make plans for college? Do you remember wanting your first car or looking for a part-time job? Simple things that seem easy or straightforward to you now may appear to be a complete mystery to a child that is homeless. You can change the life of a child by participating in our mentoring program.

We currently have multiple mentoring opportunities available depending on the age range of the child you would like to mentor.  Length of commitment and hours are flexible.

3.       Collections  - The shelters are in desperate need of many items that simply can’t be purchased for the residents. With recent cuts in funding, the needs are greater than ever. You can collect some of these items, even organize a drive at your school, work or church. Here is a wish list of items needed. There is currently a huge need for school supplies as well. You can help by participating in our school supply drive.

4.       You can also help teach a class that helps teach: Resume writing, interviewing skills, job coaching, computer skills and more! 

5.       Or maybe you have your own creative idea on how you can help make a difference in the lives of these children! 

If you're interested in volunteering or would like more information email us at info@forsakengeneration.com.

Jacksonville School Supply Drive for Homeless Children

A group of homeless children that live at the Community Connections shelter in Jacksonville.

Forsaken Generation is partnering with numerous businesses in Jacksonville to collect much needed school supplies for children in Jacksonville that are homeless. The drive is being organized by Intutition Systems Inc. For a closer look at why we are doing this drive, you can visit our website to learn how serious the problem of child and youth homelessness is in Jacksonville. Click here.

The needs vary from each age range and grade level. The Duval County Schools website has a detailed list of the needs. Click here for a detailed list.

Homelessness has a devastating impact on children and their educational opportunties. This is one small way that we can help give them a better chance. 

Drop boxes will be located in Baywood Cafe (located inside the Baywood Center office building). The address is 9428 Baymeadows Rd # 140 Jacksonville, FL 32256. For more information please contact Allishia Edmonds with Intuition Systems allishiaedmonds@gmail.com. If you wish to collect items inside your place of business simply contact us and we can arrange for pick up at  the end of the drive.

You can also make an online donation and we'll be happy to purchase the school supplies for you. When you make your donation, please put "Jacksonville School Supplies" in the notes section of your donation.

Items needed for Jacksonville area children and youth shelters.

This picture was taken at Community Connections in Jacksonville, FL, one of the shelters Forsaken Generation works to support. 

 

With over 8,000 homeless children in NE Florida, Forsaken Generation is working relentlessly to help these children. We currently work to support the efforts of 10 agencies in Jacksonville, FL that are helping these children.  They are as follows: Daniel Kids,The Sulzbacher Center, Trinity Rescue Mission, Youth Crisis Center, Family Promise, City Rescue Mission, Community Connections, House of Angels, Jasmyn and Seamark Ranch. 

The shelters are in desperate need of many items that simply can’t be purchased for the residents. With recent cuts in funding, the needs are greater than ever. You can collect some of these items, even organize a drive at your school, work or church. Here is a wish list of items needed: 

 

Babies/children – age 1-5 
[ * items desperately needed for Healthy Families and Davis Daycare ]

• Pampers *
• Baby wipes*
• Bottles *
• Formula *
• Baby food *
• Baby wash (small samples accepted)
• Baby shampoo (small samples accepted)
• Lotion * (small samples accepted)
• Baby powder * (small samples accepted)
• Vaseline/Diaper rash ointment
• Bibs
• Breast Pumps *
• Baby Monitors *
• Cribs
• Maternity Clothing
• Socks
• Bottles
• Burp Cloth
• Pottie Training pants/ies
• Baby Blanket
• Onesies
• Baby aspirin
• Small toys (rattles, etc.)
• Small Toys (stuffed animals, cars, etc.)
• Sippy cups
• Beginner books
• Coloring books/Crayons
• Games (age appropriate)
• Craft items

Linens [ * items desperately needed ]

• Bed linens * (Twin with pillow cases) –must be NEW (OSHA requirement)
• Pillows *
• Blankets *
• Towels
• Washcloths
• Hand Towels

Laundry Kit [ * items desperately needed ]

• Laundry Detergent *
• Fabric Softener *
• Bleach
• Laundry Basket *
• Rolls of Quarters * 
  (the ladies have to pay to wash/dry their clothes) 

Dishes [ * items desperately needed ]

• Pots
• Pans
• Can Openers
• Forks, spoons, and knives
• Pot Holders

Personal Grooming Supplies

• Bars of Soap
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Lotion
• Hair brush/comb
• Hair Dryer
• Nail kits
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Razors (disposable)
• Deodorant (women’s)
• Toilet paper

Cleaning/Other Supplies

• Broom/Dustpan
• Mop
• Bucket
• Sponges/Scrub Brushes
• Cleaners (i.e. Comet, etc.)
• Surface cleaner (i.e. Fantastic, 409, etc.)
• Paper towels
• Trash bags (kitchen)
• Kitchen trash can
• Electric Iron and Ironing Board

Ongoing needs

• Gas/grocery store/bra store gift cards 
  (to give as prizes to ladies)
• Event Tickets (to give as prizes to ladies)
• Televisions
• New Women’s and Children’s Underwear and Socks – all sizes
• Cars
• Pens
• Pencils
• Copy Paper
• Desk Calendars
• Appointment Books
• Car Seat

If you're interested in organizing a drive to collect these items please contact us and we will connect you with a shelter in need. 

 

Freedom Walk 2011 - Ending Child Sex Trafficking - One Step at a Time

 

34. The number of children every single hour in the U.S. that are forced into prostitution right here on our own domestic soil. Freedom should be celebrated and cherished, help us spread awareness for America's Forsaken Generation this upcoming July 4th in your own neighborhood and community. Walk for 34 minutes to celebrate Freedom for All. "


On July 4th we are asking you to spend 34 minutes of your time doing something you likely do every single day....walking. You can walk anytime you want, we recommend starting your walk 1 hour prior to your cities largest Fireworks display. Or you can participate in the 'virtual' walk here on Facebook by simply posting a picture or video on your page and ours !

How? You won't believe how easy this is!

1. Wear a red t-shirt (Red signifies love, passion; it also means a vital force.)
2. Make a sign that says "Every hour 34 children in the U.S. are forced into prostitution, visit forsakengeneration.com to help".
3. Then go walk ! walk by yourself, walk with friends, walk with whoever you like, just simply go and walk for 34 minutes.
4. Don't want to actually walk? that's ok! wear the shirt, make the sign and you can walk 'virtually' by taking a pic and uploading to your Facebook page as well as posting here on our event page, and to our Fan page:http://www.facebook.com/forsakengeneration

If you use Twitter the hashtag for the day of the event is #freedomwalk

This isn't just a walk, it' a movement, so we want to share it with the whole world to show how many people care about this. So after you get done walking we need you to just do us one more favor, we'll give you a few options, you only have to pick one!

1. Upload a picture
2. Take a video
3. Tell us a story, why are you walking?

Whichever one you choose, simply post it here on the Facebook event page and our fan page. And then watch as the pictures, videos and stories start pouring in throughout the day. Whatever you post, make sure you tell us where you are from! At the end we'll make a list of every city that participated !!

As a nation we will stand together with one voice for these children who have no voice.

1,142 Homeless Families staying in Tuscaloosa Shelters

Our team just arrived in Tucaloosa, AL  yesterday and after driving around it is honestly worse than I ever imagined. 

I'm going to be pretty simple and to be the point here. I know most of you reading this are aware of the damage caused by the Tornadoes. Many of you I'm sure have seen pictures, watched videos etc.

We've talked to people who had family members literally sucked out of the house while they watched. One man was in the bathroom with his 9 year old daughter. He put her in the bathtub hoping she'd be safe. The tornado sucked the bathtub right out of the house with the girl in the tub.  The stories we've heard are heartbreaking. But amongst the heartbreak, there is a sense of hope. We visited an area called Rosedale Courts and watched as the police patroled the area with cadavar dogs to find bodies that were buried under the rubble. We met with a young man named Brandon, he stood in his neighborhood looking at what use to be his home. His neighbor was killed, he told us he was so thankful to be alive. "It's by the grace of God that I'm standing here." Brandon said.

There is a community center here in Tuscaloosa called the Belk Center and they have been turned into a temporary emergency shelter. The family homeless shelter that is here and run by the Salvation Army was completely destroyed. 

If you are reading this, we are asking that you please consider helping these families. You may not live in Alabama, you may not even live close. But regardless of location we are all in this together. These families have not only lost their homes, they have lost everything.

We are working with the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and One Place here in Tuscaloosa to meet the needs of these families. Here is a list of the current needs:

1. Non perishable food items
2. Cleaning supplies
3. Pillows, blankets, towels
4. Can openers
5. Underwear
6. Toiletries
7. Backpacks (clear or mesh)
8. School supplies
9. Walmart Gift Cards
10. Baby items (Diapers, lotion, wash items, formula)

If you live in the Tuscaloosa are the Salvation Army is in HUGE need of a warehouse to store donated items in. 

You can do one of 2 things, if you visit www.forsakengeneration.com and click on the donate now button, 100% of all donations will go towards purchasing these supplies. If you live in the area and want to bring these items somewhere you can drop them off at One Place, the address is 870 Redmont Drive Tuscaloosa, AL 35404

Or you can bring donations to 618 14th St. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa)

I can't begin to tell each of you how great the needs are and I thank everyone who is willing to partner with us and make a difference in the lives of these families.

To ensure that we make the absolute best out of ALL donations, we are requiring that families sign up for help with their FEMA id number. The W. Alabama Coalition for the Homeless uses a system called HMIS, every item that we donate will be logged into this system to ensure people do not receive duplicate donations.  Our goal is to meet the needs of those who need it most and make the most out of your generous donations. 

Thank you, and God bless you,

Sean Wrench, Forsaken Generation

Join the movement www.forsakengeneration.com 

 

Homelessness can happen to anyone

I read today that 1 in 5 Americans will experience homelessness at least once in their lives. And I thought to myself wow – that seems high. But then the storms ripped through the South and I can see why it would be 1 in 5 because in an instant hundreds of families and children are now homeless.

What happened the last time you had something horrible happen to you? You probably went home or to your friend’s house and cried and grieved or maybe you went to your parent’s house looking for comfort. But think about all those times where you went through something horrible, you most likely had a place to go.

Now imagine that the worst, most unimaginable, scary thing just happened to you. And you can’t go home. You can’t go to that place of comfort. You can’t go to friends or family because they don’t have homes either. All you have is each other and the clothes on your back. Sitting on the couch with a bottle of wine and chocolate talking about how horrible the past few days were isn’t an option.

I can’t imagine going through a disaster like that, but what I really can’t imagine is not having a home to go to after; a place where you feel safe and comfortable. A place where all your family knows they can find you.

That’s why we’re helping – because homelessness can happen to anyone. I think about those families who were just barely hanging on as it was and now, well they have nothing – what’s going to happen to them?

Help us – we’re heading to help the newly homeless and we’re taking all donations with us. Every $1 counts. Every bottle of water counts. Every blanket, toy, food, books, prayer you can give helps.

Visit forsakengeneration.com and click on Donate to send your donation. Or click the donate button below! 

-       Jessica Wrench, Forsaken Generation