Spreading Branches to Unhoused Neighbors
Fundraising Goal: $5,000 to cover 40 packs full of survival gear and supplies for our unhoused neighbors during the coldest months of the year.
About the Project
This Branches Community School winter project will engage students, teachers and community members in a mission to gather and distribute vital supplies to our unhoused neighbors during the coldest months of the year.
The crises of eviction, real estate speculation, gentrification,skyrocketing rents, and inflated costs of living are all contributors to rising numbers of unhoused neighbors here in Durham. This project engages students in critical questions at the heart of this issue: Why doesn’t everyone get to have a home? Doesn’t everyone deserve food, precious items and a safe place to be? What happens when you don’t have a home? How can we help?
Learning about “Home”
The Branches teachers have already been discussing the idea of ‘home’ with our students: what it means to them and what it represents. They will continue to lead our young people in age-appropriate learning surrounding this issue, inspiring them to imagine a world where everyone has access to ‘home’. In addition, Pre-school/Nest parents Jadelynn and Leslie will organize a short teach-in with them, followed by a Pre-School led ‘teach back’, where our young folk will teach their parents what they have learned.
Mutual Aid Gear and Supplies Drive
We are running a community drive to create 40 packs of survival gear and supplies for unhoused residents in Durham. As part of their outreach initiatives, North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition will distribute these packs to residents forced to sleep outside due to the lack of affordable housing, shelter and services. With winter coming, we recognize that this is a time where weather appropriate gear, tents and clothing is deeply needed.
We are hopeful that we can also organize 1-3 sponsors for this event that will agree to match the amount of packs we are able to create, so that we can get them to Asheville and surrounding areas of Western NC impacted by Hurricane Helene to support unhoused people there as well.
On December 16th we will be assembling the packs together as a school community. On December 20th we will deliver them to our partners at NC Harm Reduction Coalition.
Get Involved
Donate funds to our drive by December 12th!
Fundraising goal: $5000 total!
(Each full pack is $125)
We have selected quality gear and supplies to buy in bulk for these supply packs and are accepting monetary donations.
Please send any donations to @BBranciforte with the subject “Supply Packs Drive”. The last 4 digits of the phone number is 1347.
We will be filling the packs with the following items:
- 4-Person Tent
- Cold Weather Sleeping Bag
- Headlamps
- Tarps
- Large tarp moving bags with back straps
- Microfiber washcloths
- Bandaids
- Granola Bars
- Tampons
- Pads
- Neosporin/antibiotic cream
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Unscented Baby Wipes
- Ziploc Freezer Bags (to hold assorted supplies)
- Socks
- Handwarmers
- Basic art supplies like: sketch book, pencils, pens, pastels
Direct purchase and drop off!
We are prioritizing monetary donations. However, if you would like to purchase or donate an item, please indicate the item and quantity using SignUpGenius so that we can track what has been purchased. All items should be dropped off at Branches, 903 Broad Street, on December 16th anytime between 8a.m. and 4p.m.
For any questions, please contact Leslie St. Dre at lemadre@gmail.com.