In the Clarkstown School District, the number of homeless students has increased from one child three years ago to 35 children this year.  The district is trying to help with the establishment of a food pantry at the Birchwood School and plans to start a drive to collect clothing donations.

School Superintendent Margaret Keller-Cogan said the district has identified 35 homeless students.  There are some students whose families do not have running water and may not have other operating utilities.  Often they will not speak to anyone about their family’s situation but it is the teachers or other staff members who notice. 

She thinks the majority of the homeless students attend the Lakewood and Congers elementary schools.  Keller-Cogan said there are students who arrive at the Birchwood School in West Nyack before classes begin so they can take a shower or wash their clothes because they do not have regular access to those types of facilities.

Principal Jonathan Slaybaugh and members of the Birchwood staff started a food pantry in September when they realized numerous students’ families were struggling financially.   Community organizations have responded quickly to assist the pantry. 

Birchwood’s application to the Rockland Community Foundation brought in $500.  When Keller-Cogan spoke about the food pantry at a New City Rotary meeting earlier this month, a donor who wishes to remain anonymous gave her a $1,000 contribution.  Since then, Rotary members have raised an additional $1,180.  She said the response has been remarkable with almost $3,000 donated for the pantry in just a few weeks. 

The clothing drive is in the organizing stages.  The superintendent said the district will collect clothing by sizes: children’s 2T to 4T; 4 to 6; 6 to 8; 8 to10; 10 to 24 and women's and men's clothing in small, medium and large. 

“If people can bundle them in plastic bags by size and gender and drop them off in the District Office, we will help with the sorting,” she said.

Keller-Cogan said Clarkstown is not the only Rockland school district with homeless students.  She said Joel Klein, the interim superintendent of the East Ramapo School District, spoke about the problem last week and said his district has 350 homeless students.

If you want to help, here is the contact information.

Clarkstown School District Central Offices – 62 Old Middletown Road, New City, 845-639-6300

Birchwood School - 214 Sickletown Road, West Nyack, 845-639-6480