Back-to-school season often begins with lists.
New shoes. Clothes that fit. A backpack, notebooks and pencils. Lunches to pack, transportation to arrange and schedules to coordinate.
At Austin’s House, those familiar preparations are part of something much bigger. For a child who has been removed from their home during a time of crisis, returning to school can provide continuity when many other parts of life feel uncertain.
School offers familiar teachers, classmates, activities and routines. Whenever possible, Austin’s House helps children remain connected to those important parts of their lives while they are staying with us.
That is what More Than Just Foster Care looks like during the back-to-school season.
Preparing for More Than the First Day
Behind every first day of school is a great deal of quiet preparation.
Our staff members help coordinate school enrollment, transportation and communication with teachers and caseworkers. We make sure children have clothing and shoes in the correct sizes, along with the personal care items and school supplies they need.
Some children arrive at Austin’s House with very little. Others may have a few belongings but still need clothes for the changing seasons, a pair of shoes that fits or the everyday basics required to get through the school week.
These items may seem small, but they can make an enormous difference in how a child feels walking into a classroom.
A shirt that fits, clean socks and a dependable pair of shoes can help a child feel more comfortable, prepared and included. They allow the child to focus on being a student rather than worrying about what they do not have.
The School Day Does Not End at the Bell
Back-to-school support also extends well beyond the classroom.
When children return to Austin’s House at the end of the school day, they may need help with homework, transportation to an activity, dinner, clean clothes for the next morning and a calm bedtime routine.
In many ways, these afternoons and evenings look like those in other households. There are backpacks by the door, schedules on the calendar, laundry to fold and lunches to prepare.
The difference is that the children staying with us may also be navigating one of the most difficult periods of their lives.
Creating consistent routines cannot change what has happened, but it can help a child know what to expect next. A familiar schedule, a prepared meal and support with tomorrow’s homework can help make the day feel more manageable.
Why Recurring Donations Matter
A $25 back-to-school gift can help Austin’s House provide clothing, shoes and other essentials for a child in our care.
A recurring $25 monthly gift helps us continue meeting those needs as circumstances change.
Children grow. Shoes wear out. Weather changes. School projects come home. A child may arrive at Austin’s House in October, January or April needing the same essentials another child needed in August.
Our work does not follow a seasonal donation calendar. Austin’s House provides care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and children can arrive at any time.
Recurring donations give us a dependable source of support that helps us respond when a need arises. Instead of waiting for a special campaign or hoping a particular item is available, we can purchase the correct size, replace something that has been outgrown and provide what a child needs at that moment.
Monthly giving also supports the many parts of care that are less visible but equally important, including meals, transportation, hygiene supplies, school activities and the routines that help children feel safe and supported.
Helping Children Keep Moving Forward
Back to school is often described as a fresh start. For the children staying at Austin’s House, it may also be a chance to hold onto something familiar.
A regular school day can provide structure. A trusted teacher can provide connection. An after-school activity can offer a few hours of normalcy. Clean clothes, school supplies and a backpack packed for the morning can help a child feel ready to participate.
Austin’s House works to preserve those everyday experiences while providing emergency shelter and comprehensive care to children from rural Nevada.
We could not do that work without the people who give, share our mission and continue showing up for the children we serve.
A one-time gift helps us meet an immediate need. A recurring gift helps us remain ready for the next school day, the next growth spurt and the next child who walks through our doors.
A monthly gift of $25 can help a child begin school prepared and continue feeling supported throughout the year.
Make a one-time or recurring gift:
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