Stand Up For Kids' volunteer outreach counselors pound the pavement looking in alleys, abandoned buildings, and on the streets for homeless teens who need help. They wear a purple shirt and carry a backpack with things like food and clean socks inside. It's not easy to tell if a teen is homeless though because they try to fit in and many won't admit to it because they are afraid they will be reported to the police or social services. They'd rather sleep in a squat than go back to an abusive home. The counselors have to know what to look for- the kids might be wearing the same clothes for several days in a row, or panhandling in the street. When they do find a kid they suspect to be homeless, they'll hand them one of their purple business cards and say something like, "We help kids who are homeless or couch surfing, or just not getting what they need at home, so if you know anyone like that, can you give them our card?" Some kids will even recognize the purple shirt and approach them asking for help.

Many charities for homeless kids have a religious agenda, but not Stand Up For Kids. They truly seek to help without asking for anything in return. They meet the immediate needs like food, clothing, shelter and personal hygiene. They help with essential services such as finding housing, education and tutoring, vocational development, counseling, health, transportation to self-help meetings, and legal assistance. Volunteers also conduct life-skills training, covering such areas as budgeting, banking, apartment cleanliness and safety, shopping and cooking, nutrition, and hygiene. They help only when the kids are ready to accept it and if they aren't, SUFK won't push anything on them. They are not a shelter, but they do help find shelter and teens can come to their facility and use the laundry room, kitchen, showers, and even receive mail there, all depending on how well funded the facility.

My friend, Layla volunteers at the Tampa office. She has all kind of inspiring success stories about the kids. One girl who has been sleeping on the street for 5 years just got her first apartment with the help of SUFK and now enjoys cooking with the herbs she grows on her patio. Another young man who lived through an extremely abusive childhood finally formed a relationship of trust with the counselors. They've been helping him get his GED, among other things. When they see him on the street, they're greeted with big hugs and are told that they are the only ones that have ever cared for him. He really appreciates their help and wants to do well in life.

SUFK operates in 35 cities entirely by volunteers, with the exception of several officers at the national level. If you are interested in volunteering and wish to work directly with the kids, be prepared to go through an intense training program of eight 2-hour classes which will prepare you for working with street kids. You can expect to work with up to 25 kids at one time, helping them with a variety of services such as street counseling, providing nourishing food, transporting kids to and from church meetings or AA/NA meetings, helping locate furniture, teaching basic living skills, helping with baby clothing, and providing the local office with clerical assistance. You can even help start a new program in your town if you don't already have one. If it all sounds great, but you don't have time to volunteer, you can always make a much appreciated donation- either a dollar amount online or dropping food supplies off at your local facility.