THE LOVEMARIN MISSION

  LOVEMARIN had to close its storefront and shift its focus due to the COVID19 pandemic.  In March we made fabric facemasks from materials around the house and store to give to members of our community.  LOVEMARIN has made and donated over 100 masks to healthcare and other COVID19 frontline workers, therapists, restaurant owners, families, elderly individuals and those with compromised health.  We will continue to make and donate masks to those who need them most.  

On February 26th we were privileged to hand-deliver our third monthly donation and spend an afternoon with the wonderful Michelle Salling and friends from The Beach House, a program that is part of A Home Away from Homelessness.

  'Home Away is a nonprofit organization that seeks to radically alter the trajectory of children's lives by providing safe and supportive environments that foster their strengths, creativity and abilities. By bringing together homeless and previously homeless children in the Marin and San Francisco counties to offer them new experiences, opportunities, and guidance, these children become part of a welcoming community that encourages their personal growth while providing a sense of inclusivity and family.'

'At the Beach House, Home Away hosts small group groups of children ages 5 – 17 from shelters in San Francisco and Marin for an afternoon at a cozy cottage above the sea.  On these visits children encounter nature (often for the first time) and have a chance to just be kids.  A trip to the Beach House may include indoor and outdoor activities—a hike in the hills, a picnic on the beach, dress-up, arts and crafts, board games, or simply enjoying the sunset from the porch swing. Every trip ends with a family-style dinner prepared by volunteers and the Beach House staff.'

 Home Away also operates an after school program in San Francisco.  

'The Schoolhouse is a comprehensive after-school learning community for homeless and formerly-homeless students in grades 5-12. Providing wrap-around academic enrichment and social support, School House services include educational testing, mental health support, case management, individual tutoring and homework assistance, as well as a diverse array of enrichment activities designed to promote positive educational and social outcomes.

Homelessness has a direct impact on the education of homeless children. Studies have shown that children without stable housing are twice as likely to repeat a grade and up to 45% more likely to not attend school on a regular basis. An estimated 2,200+ students currently enrolled in the San Francisco public schools are classified as homeless. One article in the San Francisco Chronicle named this population “the most difficult children to teach…because their unstable lives often lead to frequent absences or tardiness, lethargy, health issues and behavioral outbursts.” Though these children are struggling with many difficulties, they remain resilient, energetic, creative and passionate. Home Away offers these children stability and comfort during a tumultuous time in their lives, and works with them to create positive emotional, social, and academic habits. 

The College Exploration program at Schoolhouse provides our high school juniors and seniors with SAT/ACT tutoring, college prep and application support, and mentorship check-ins during a student's first two years of college.'

Home Away also offers a summer program.

 When a homeless child grasps that idea - that nature is a feast that is always available, even to them - they are stunned. It’s as elusive and gigantic a notion as infinity, especially to a child who has lost everything and, worse, doesn’t believe he deserves anything. 

-Jeanie Kortum, Founder of Home Away

Click here to check out the web site, find out how you can donate and volunteer, and learn more about Home Away.