House for homeless students to open this spring
<p>Jenanne Solberg gives four tablet computers to Laura Kochis of Sparrow's Nest Northwest Montana. Solber recently donated the tablets to the non-profit group that is working to open a home in Whitefish for homeless high school students.</p>
A longterm housing facility for homeless high school students is planning to open in Whitefish by late March, but is in need of donations now to make that happen.
Sparrow’s Nest Northwest Montana is opening the facility at a home on Colorado Avenue. Donations have been coming in, but there are specific items the nonprofit is seeking along with monetary contributions to ensure the home is ready. About $175,000 is needed annually to operate the home that will house up to five students who need a safe place to sleep at night.
Laura Kochis, Sparrow’s Nest board member, said the group is excited to be nearing the opening of the house and is grateful for the support it has already received.
“We’re all non-paid board members and our focus has always been on getting these high school students a safe place to live,” she said. “We’re thankful for the community support and generosity.”
St. Peter Lutheran Church donated the use of the Colorado Avenue house for the next four years. Sparrow’s Nest is still seeking furniture for the house, including, five twin beds with new mattresses, box springs and frames; five dressers, five desks and chairs; lamps; alarm clocks; wall clocks; and computer equipment.
The Sparrow’s Nest’s mission is to enable homeless students to graduate from high school in a safe environment, and ultimately become productive members of their community. The home will function as a longterm housing solution and students living there will be required to stay enrolled in school, pass a drug test and follow the rules of the house.
Students can often get food or clothing through other programs, but finding shelter can be harder, leaving students staying with friends or living out of a car.
“For homeless students on their own there isn’t a lot of options,” Kochis noted.
Recent donations to Sparrow’s Nest have included $10,000 from Eisinger Motors and $75,000 raised through their annual “When the Night Comes” fundraiser, which asks participants to spend one night outside to see what it’s like to be without a home.
Noah Oaks, 8, of Whitefish, gathered donations making a $5,000 contribution to Sparrow’s Nest.
Jenanne Solberg, orchestra teacher at Whitefish middle and high schools, donated four brand new tablets to the Whitefish home.
“We are extremely grateful to Jenanne for these tablets as we have not had any computer equipment donated and these tablets will be a great help for these high school students,” Kochis said.
S.M. Bradford in Whitefish is holding a fundraiser for Sparrow’s Nest. When customers try on Naot shoes, a pair will be donated to the home with the goal of 100 pairs of new shoes donated.
Milk bottles for donations have been placed in a number of retail stores throughout downtown. Volunteers are also always welcome.
For more information or to make a donation, contact Kochis at 253-4062. Donations can be mailed to Sparrow’s Nest, P.O. Box 8384, Kalispell, MT 59904.