At Positive Tomorrows, teachers and administrators are immersed to teaching their students academic success, said its administrator.
But they teach more. So much more.
It’s haven from homeless turmoil, offering hot meals warm, emotional support, structure, solid academics, reliable heating and cooling and if necessary, help obtaining emergency medical intervention.
These children are usually subjected to ridicule from their peers in traditional school settings.
Its doors stay open thanks to private contributions and United Way support.
“There are tons of people who don’t know we’re here and what we do,” said executive director Susan Agel. “We pretty much fly under the radar.”
Under that radar, school workers and volunteers are resourceful. They may slip food into kids’ backpacks or find a little clothing.
The school tries to stay open extra hours and extra days, even during holidays and summer. To the kids, it means more hot meals, structure and reliable heating and air conditioning - and escape from situations beyond their control
Outside school, life for them is scary. Their essential needs are met irregularly. They are neglected. Peaceful sleep is hard to obtain
“The shelter is not the best place for a child,” Agel said. “They’re around strangers. And when sleeping on couches, “They have no control of the adults coming and going,”
She added, sometimes school officials sadly term them “couch kids”
Those are some of the multitude of reasons the school tries to stay open more.
Even, Positive Tomorrows schedules nap times to help make up for sleep deficits.
Positive Tomorrows doesn’t mean to demonize the parents; They know parents are caught in a desperate cycle of trying to just survive, find jobs, and stable housing. Others who neglect or even abuse the youngsters, of course, have no excuses. For that reason, the school’s address is kept confidential.
The school currently has several openings for needy children.
Soon, Agel politely excuses herself from the interview. After all, she has important work to do; her children need her.
Cork and Canvas event to assist homeless children
Positive Tomorrows students will be the beneficiaries of Cork and Canvas, Positive Tomorrows’ annual winter fundraising event.
The event will be presented by Chesapeake Energy, 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 30, at Red Primesteak, 504 N. Broadway, in downtown Oklahoma City.
It will be a wine tasting and art auction features artwork by the homeless students at Positive Tomorrows and pieces donated by professional artists in the community. Student artwork will be available for purchase through silent auction and professional art pieces will be offered by live auction.
The live auction features items donated by professional artists such as Craig Clingan of Ring of Fire Studios in Norman, Brian Palmer, David Shear, Debbie Curtis, Romy Owens, in addition to earrings donated by Naifeh Fine Jewelry.
Items available through a raffle include shoes custom-made for Thunder player D.J. White and autographed by him, weekend passes and hotel accommodations for the Byron Nelson Golf Tournament in Dallas, passes to an event at the Chesapeake Finish Tower on the Oklahoma River, dental whitening by Dr. Joe Harris, and one night’s stay at the Colcord Hotel.
The evening also tasting of wines donated by Putnam Wines and Gallo Wineries, with accompanying, heavy hors d’oeuvres.
Event proceeds will be used to offset operational expenses of the agency, such as teacher salaries, school lunches, and family support services.
Event tickets are $50 per person and may be purchased by calling Positive Tomorrows at (405) 556-5082 or by visiting www.positivetomorrows.org. The deadline to purchase tickets is January 25.
Sponsors for the event include Chesapeake Energy as presenting sponsor and Gabbard & Company Ledbetter Insurance, Dell, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Health Care, Price Edwards, IBC Bank, and Republic National Distributing Company.
