Getting through high school is hard enough, but what happens when a student doesn't have a secure place to live, food to eat or clothes to wear? It's a very real problem here in Washoe County.
Project 150 is a non-profit organization that reaches out to high schoolers in need.
For weeks now, organizers and volunteers have been gathering donated clothes and shoes for the upcoming “Free Teen Shopping Day” on Saturday, August 27th. "We say free for all. Go ahead, you can have whatever you and excitement when they know they can pick out one pair of boots. We say - take two, “ says Ashley Machado who is on the board for Project 150 and co-owner of LoDo Loft in Reno. “I mean this is free. We have a warehouse full of clothes and we want it all gone"
Project 150 wants to make sure our local homeless students have the basics, that so many take for granted. And here in Washoe County - there are thousands who are doing without. "Nobody has to know that they don't have money or they don't have a home. So, we clothe them so they look like everybody else,” says Machado.
The warehouse for Stanley Steemer in Reno-Sparks is providing storage space and the location for the upcoming teen shopping day on August 27th. Franchise owner Brandon Koch got involved with the group in Las Vegas. "I found out they had all their stuff in offices, at the drop-off locations. I had an easy resolution to fix that problem and I had a spare 2,500 square feet that I could donate to the organization," said Koch.
The hope is to level the playing field for these teens in need.
"And when we're able to provide those resources for them, it keeps them motivated to stay in school and when kids stay in school, they're gonna succeed.”
Teens only need to show school id at the next shopping day to pick out what they need. But, clothes, shoes, toiletries are available to high-schoolers year round.
Project 150 also provides food.
“They're starving, they have nothing to eat over the weekend,” explains Machado. “They can go to their counselors where we have a closet and there's food for them go for the whole weekend.“
Project 150 is still in need of gently used or new clothes, shoes - especially boy stuff. There are several drop-off locations in town.
"If you can't get them dropped off to us, call Stanley Steemer - we'll be more than happy to pick them up for you."
For drop-off locations and more information;
Project 150 Reno website http://www.project150reno.org/
Project 150 Reno on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Project150-Reno-196946607144511/
Stanley Steemer https://www.stanleysteemer.com/locations-home/nv/nv-sparks/919
