Have you ever encountered someone who is homeless while with the children in your care? Have you ever tried to – or wondered how you would explain homelessness to a child? Perhaps you are a teacher or church school leader and would like to do a unit on poverty and homelessness but are not sure where to begin.

 In April 2007, The Cardboard Shack Beneath the Bridge, the children’s book I wrote and illustrated, was released – with the by-line Helping Children Understand Homelessness. The author’s proceeds from the book go to four charitable organizations: Youth Unlimited (Toronto YFC), The Daily Bread Food Bank, The Ladybug Foundation and Frontlines.

In response to an overwhelming interest (by parent groups and educators) in taking it a step further, the Light Patrol team has created an interactive workshop to complement the book. The teaching session includes an actual life-sized cardboard shack for children to sit in, wet socks to try on as they climb into a sleeping bag, a DVD photo album depicting life on the streets, an opportunity to respond through art, and a unique chance to interact with experienced street outreach workers in a child-friendly and age-appropriate setting.

Because the interest has been so great, and the requests to come and speak to school groups and Sunday school classes continue to come in, we thought it would be helpful to post an outline of the full children’s program here on the site, for those who are interested.

For more information on Light Patrol’s interactive children’s workshop, please click here. 

All the best,

Tim Huff
Director of Light Patrol and Homelessness Initiatives
Youth Unlimited (Toronto YFC) 

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