In any given year, more than 1 million homeless teenagers in the U.S. lack the necessities they need for normal life. According to DoSomething.org, a not-for-profit organization for young people and social change, the item most requested by homeless youth is a basic pair of jeans.
When seventh-grader Daniela Mora at Robert T. Hill Middle School learned about the organization’s national Teens for Jeans campaign to provide jeans for homeless youth, she seized the opportunity to help her community, and organized a denim drive at her school.
The decision to conduct the Teens for Jeans campaign also gives Daniela a chance at a $5,000 college scholarship and a grant for her school. She was inspired to launch the campaign after attending a school assembly about future expectations for students. Believing college was in her future, Daniela didn’t want to wait until high school to start applying for scholarships. She felt joining the jeans campaign could be a three-way win.
“I thought this was not only a great opportunity for me, but for my family at Robert T. Hill and the homeless people in the community,” Daniela said.
The elementary, middle and high school that collects the most jeans will each win a $5,000 grant. The top school overall will win a private concert from pop band The Vamps. And Hill is offering a free dress day for the grade level that donates the most jeans.
Members of the community have until Feb. 19 to support Daniela and the homeless community by dropping off gently used jeans of all sizes at Hill Middle School, 505 Easton Road in Dallas. For more information, call the school at (972) 502-5700, or visit TeensForJeans.com.
