Youth in Transition, a day shelter for homeless youth, has never been a stranger to hardship, and when the building was burned down on Thanksgiving, it only got worse.
Youth in Transition lost all of its supplies, including food and winter clothes, and is presently in a state of emergency.
The program has been unable to find a temporary home, largely because the fire was obviously arson, and members of the community find its existence problematic due to the nature of its participants. Some are suggesting that the loosely structured program needs to be re-evaluated before it can find a new home. These people are out of touch with the nature of what YIT is trying to accomplish -- a haven without judgment attached.
Thanks to organizer Donna Rowe's persistence, a semblance of the former program perseveres in Morningside Park under a tarp during the day. Rowe is still providing clothes and food to her clients and she is serving lunch Monday through Friday from noon-4 p.m.
Below is a list of needed items:
People to help provide and distribute warm food at 12:00 and break down the temporary location at 4:30 p.m.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
l Bus tokens for transportation
l First Aid supplies
l Toiletries
l Socks, hats, and scarves
l Money donations
l Small bags of dog and cat food
l Garbage bags
l People to give rides and support to the teens and young adults
l A place to store supplies
Supply drop-offs are being accepted at UNM on the second floor of the Humanities Building, in the Women Studies Program in Mesa Vista Hall, in the Classified Office in Marron Hall, or at Morningside Park at 5555 Zuni Rd. SE, between noon and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For more information, please contact Laura Fugikawa at 277-0402.
