“Every time I thought I hit my lowest point, it just seemed to getlower,” said Margaret, a Sacramento State student, who was oncehomeless.

According to the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, women andchildren are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population inSacramento. In a 1999 report for Sacramento County, 25 percent of thehomeless were adult females and 15 percent were children.

The Sacramento Anthropological Society at Sac State is running adonation drive for St. John’s Shelter for Women and Children throughMarch 30.

“St. John’s shelter is the only program that provides servicesexclusively for homeless women and children in the Sacramento area,”said Henri Santos-Coy, Executive Director for St. John’s Shelter.Located at 12th and North C Street, St. John’s Shelter is a non-profit,non-denominational organization operating year-round, with a focus onempowering women.

“It makes it hard when you don’t know where the next anything will comefrom,” said Tamika, a homeless woman who stayed at St. John’s. “You canstay here or there and halfway sleep, but you don?t have to worry at theshelter.”

Besides giving each guest a clean bed, a place to shower, and an eveningmeal, the shelter’s staff and volunteers provide assessment and referralfor transitional housing and recovery programs. They offer supportiveadvocacy toward the goal of obtaining permanent housing, and provideassistance leading to positive long-term changes in lifestyle.

“It was raining,” said Gasey, a homeless woman who would rather stay inthe shelter than go home to her abusive ex-husband. “The hardest part atthe shelter was hearing women knock on the door to get in, but all thebeds were full.”

The shelter accommodates 40 women and children per night. “The worstpart of it all (the shelter) is that every night 20 to 30 women andchildren are turned away because we are full,” said Santos-Coy. “Peopledon’t realize how close each of us are to being in their shoes.” Theshelter’s staff and volunteers are hoping to move the shelter to be ableto accommodate more people, but funding is low.

St. John’s Shelter is in need of non-perishable food, winter coats,sweaters, sweatshirts, socks, hats, scarves, gloves, rain ponchos,slippers, pajamas, underwear, backpacks, wallets, nail clippers, hairbrushes, shampoo, flashlights, stationary, pens, journals, giftcertificates, diapers, blankets, Orajel and toys. A complete list ofwhat is needed is posted in Mendocino Hall 4004, as well as the box toput donated items.

Ryan Tyree, an Interior Design major at Sac State, plans to donate ZipLock bags and Laundry Detergent. “Many of us (students) think we arepoor, but we’re not. Students should take responsibility to help peoplewho do not have the basic necessities to get by,” Tyree said.

“CSUS students can get involved by donating to the drive, volunteeringto play with the kids or paint a mural in the kids’ play room at theshelter,” said Georgina Sitar, president of the SacramentoAnthropological Society. “We really can make a difference.”

To volunteer or make donations directly to the shelter, write to St.John’s Shelter for Women and Children, P.O. Box 188526, Sacramento, CA95818, or call (916) 448-1016.