Roanoke City Public Schools: Annual Breakfast With Santa Raises More Than $11K For Help The Homeless Fund

Press release from Roanoke City Public Schools:

12/15/2021

Roanoke City Public Schools raised nearly $11,300 for its Help the Homeless Fund during the annual Breakfast with Santa event on Saturday, December 11, 2021. The fund provides support to RCPS students and families experiencing homelessness. So far this school year, RCPS has identified 386 students experiencing homelessness. With the addition of approximately $11,280 to the Help the Homeless Fund, RCPS is now in an even better position to support students. Breakfast with Santa began in 2016, shortly after the Help the Homeless Fund began. Students from Patrick Henry and William Fleming high schools created the STAR Council (Students Taking Action in Roanoke) to support their classmates experiencing housing instability. The STAR Council partnered with RCPS staff to create Breakfast with Santa, and it has become the Help the Homeless Fund’s largest annual fundraiser. Breakfast with Santa raises funds through sponsorships and ticket sales. Attendees receive a hot breakfast of pancakes, baked apples, and bacon and are able to meet Santa. In previous years, Breakfast with Santa was a buffet-style event inside William Fleming High School. Both last year and this year, it has been a drive-through event due to COVID-19. But that hasn’t put a damper on the fun; in fact, the drive-through event has allowed for additional creativity. This year, children received a free book, and all attendees received exclusive access to a virtual storytime with Santa later that evening. This year’s event also featured an art installation by Jane Gabrielle McCadden of One World Arts, representing the number of students who are currently experiencing homelessness. Many student volunteers made this year’s Breakfast with Santa possible. William Fleming students assisted with set-up the day before the event, and both William Fleming and Patrick Henry students volunteered the day of, finishing set up and providing support to Santa and the book table. They also sang holiday carols with Superintendent White! Staff volunteers also worked hard to make the event a success. This year marked the first time tickets were available for pre-sale. RCPS’ Fiscal Services Department played a key role in make this happen, which allowed RCPS to reach its fundraising goal in record time. Numerous businesses and organization sponsored Breakfast with Santa, including Gold Level sponsors: SodexoMagic, Anstey Hodge Advertising Group, Freedom First Credit Union, Karisma Salon, Acquisition Title, and Magic City Ford Lincoln. Since the Help the Homeless Fund’s inception in March 2016, Roanoke City Public Schools has provided $43,483.86 in support to help 288 families, which has impacted 625 students. To learn more or to make a monetary or material donation today, please visit:  bit.ly/RCPSHomelessSupport .

This press release was produced by Roanoke City Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.