Captain Hope’s Kids

School is tough enough. There are the distractions of fellow classmates; tougher math and reading assignments; the challenge of eating a good lunch; and coming to class prepared with the right materials and mindset. Now think about balancing the above while being homeless. Think about what its like to try to make new friends when you’ve changed schools a few times. Think about trying to grasp new material when your classmates are already ahead of you. Think about trying to do homework or storing your school supplies when you don’t have your own bedroom. Think about eating lunch when you’re not sure you’ll have dinner that night.

That’s where Captain Hope’s Kids comes in. The Dallas based organization comes to the rescue of homeless children in Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties by providing free school supplies and uniforms. Our story (Thursday at 4pm and Sunday at 8am) follows a mother and two daughters as they gleefully picked out the items they needed to start the 2007-2008 School Year off right. The clients are not looking for a hand out… just a hand up. Executive Director Jeane Reyer choked up when she told me “the children never asked to be homeless.”

Captain Hope’s Kids also provides diapers and hygiene items. They receive boxloads from generous donors all across North Texas every week. The organization provides Birthday presents and holiday presents as well to children. Different agencies from around the metroplex refer homeless families to Captain Hope’s Kids. For many parents, the group helps them get their lives back on track.

For more information, log onto http://www.captainhope.org/ The need for donations or volunteers is year round.

Metro Girl Magazine

My journalism career began in junior high school. I grew up in a rural area in Eastern Colorado. In seventh grade, I covered my best friend’s 4-H club for the monthly school paper. It wasn’t front page news, but after conducting interviews, writing (and re-writing) my story, taking photographs and creating headlines… my first story appeared in print! I was so excited to see my creation in black and white.

I imagine the young writers at Metro Girl Magazine get the same feeling when new editions of their magazine are published. The publication is for girls ages 10-18 who live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. More importantly, its WRITTEN BY girls ages 10-18 who live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area! You won’t find little features on 4-H in here. The girls talk about issues that matter to them: from making the transition from middle school to high school to dealing with “mean girls” to helping to environment to the pros and cons of the HPV vaccine. There’s an advice column and a calendar of events.

Metro Girl Magazine is the brainchild of publisher Laura Heymann. She created the publication after finding other girl-oriented magazines were filled with just fluff, celebrity gossip and boyfriend talk.

On September 20 at 4:00 p.m., we’ll shine the Spotlight on Metro Girl Magazine. You’ll see the brain-storming session where the girls come up with their story ideas. You’ll see how the writers are a cross-section of the metroplex – in age, race and geography. And you’ll see how parents are “not” left out of the whole process.

Most of all, you’ll see how the girls’ eyes light up when talking about the stories they’ve written or about to write. To get involved with the magazine, log onto www.metrogirlmagazine.com.

You Can Make A Difference

Students across North Texas are back in class. But it’s not just teachers changing the lives of young people. This Saturday, we’re shining the Spotlight on adults making a difference through donating their time or money to young people.

Please join us for a Special “Spotlight” presentation this Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

Among the stories you will see:

– A new, local magazine for and written by local girls
– A local coach turning girls into winners on and off the track
– A group gathering school supplies for homeless children
– A father’s invention that’s bringing families of blind children together
– An after school program teaching children art at no or low costs
– A program bringing tennis to young people in Oak Cliff
– A camp changing the lives of North Texans with cranial facial syndromes

I’m a big believer of volunteering. The gift of time that you give to a young person is something that will shape them for the rest of their lives. Please watch this “Spotlight” special Saturday at 5:00 p.m. on NBC 5.