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Community partners collecting ‘hugs’ for homeless, foster care children

December 2, 2018

The Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens is collaborating with community partners like the Office of Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, Central Middle School, Two Men And A Truck, Dover, and Delaware State University Pinnacle Honor Society Zeta Phi Beta to launch the three-month drive to collect “hugs” for Delaware’s underserved children on the heels of last year’s successful drive, which saw thousands of items distributed to children who were homeless, inadequately housed or in foster care throughout the state. 

Heart 2 Heart Hugs is a statewide drive with various organizations and companies throughout the state offering their time and resources to collect and deliver new or handmade items to Delaware’s nearly 5,000 children who are homeless or in foster care. “Out of the nearly 5,000 children who are homeless, underhoused, or in foster care, approximately one-third of them are children with disabilities,” explained Wendy Strauss, executive director of GACEC, which serves as the state advisory panel for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and its amendments.  

Homelessness impacts children and the State of Delaware in many ways.  Health issues, food security and educational proficiency are areas that the report uses to show how great the needs are for children who are homeless. “For many Delawareans in need, the holiday season is an especially difficult time,” said Hall-Long. “The Heart 2 Hear Hugs campaign ensures that some of our most vulnerable citizens have the essential items they need to make it through. I look forward to supporting their efforts again this year.”

Heart 2 Heart Hugs begins collecting in November and will continue through February 2019. Drop-off points are located throughout the state and may soon be found on the GACEC website at www.gacec.delaware.gov. Interested individuals may also contact the GACEC offices at 302-739-4553 for additional information about drop-off locations or about becoming a community partner for the campaign. 

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