APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – November marks National Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention month.
The Boys and Girls Club of the Fox Valley’s Home Base program, along with community partners, are shining a light on the little-known population.
Green footprints are spread throughout more than 60 businesses around Northeast Wisconsin.
“Green is the color of that represents the month of November for runaway and homeless youth, and then the footprints to show them that in their community, we’ll walk along side them,” said Katie Van Groll, Home Base Director.
“It might be a shelter location, it might be safe adults in the community,” said Van Groll. “It might even be some place like a coffee shop that’s willing to just let them come inside and keep warm and stay safe.”
“The thing that I preach to my employees is when people walk in here, immediately we want them to feel like they’re welcome,” said Stephan Witchell, owner of Lawlss Coffee.
Witchell says he’s proud to display his green foot prints on the shop’s windows.
“We’re a staple in the community and I feel it’s important to be as helpful and as meaningful as a business as we can, so I feel like it’s a no questions asked type of thing to be part of,” said Witchell.
Van Groll tells FOX 11 Home Base serves youth up to age 21 and families experiencing problems related to running away, homelessness, and housing insecurities.
“Typically when youth leave their home, running away, they’re not running to something, they’re running from something, so there’s something they need help with.”
4.2 million youth experience homelessness annually across the nation.
“These are kids that we see every day, our kids go to school with them, we brush them in the streets,” said Van Groll.
Youth on the Move aims to bring attention to this population locally.
There were 118 runaway reports in Appleton in 2019.
“It’s a sad thing when anybody is homeless, but especially youth, because they’re still developing as humans,” said Witchell.
Home Base will be hosting a Wellness Fair at the Appleton Boys and Girls Club on Nov. 17.
The Oshkosh YMCA will also be providing free showers to youth ages 12-25 at their downtown and 20th Street locations during the month of November.
The City of Appleton will again be lighting up the Houdini Plaza fountain and Jones Park in green for awareness.
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