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    #Activate10: RHS Leadership organizes donation drive for Eagles Hope during ‘Friday Night Cruise’

    Our community is large and wildly diverse, which is at the same time our strength and our weakness. #Activate10 is a movement seeking to increase communication between individuals and organizations across Fremont County and to promote positive action in our communities.

    Riverton High School (RHS) Leadership students have planned a donation drive for Eagles Hope Transitions during the May 1st “Friday Night Cruise” in Riverton. Multiple “drive-thru” donation buckets will be placed throughout Riverton starting at 7:00 pm.

    Swing by as you lap Main Street, keep your distance and donate to a local nonprofit in need. Buckets will be located at Day’s Inn, Eagles Hope, Gordman’s, Phil’s Dog Shack, and the corner of Kusel’s.

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    Funds raised on Friday will go toward opening Eagles Hope Phase I Housing located at 921 E. Washington Street. You may recall earlier this year, County 10 shared early May 2020 was the estimated date of opening the sober living emergency shelter. However, that date has now moved to June 1st as the hurdles of COVID-19 have slowed the opening process.

    Eagles Hope Phase I Housing

    The RHS Leadership class consists of 10 students right now, shared RHS Social Studies/Leadership teacher Sam Howerton. The class usually meets daily but since starting the adaptive learning plan they have decreased to twice a week online.

    Typically, the students break out into committees for different activities that focus on leading, Sam explained. That usually ends up being a community service event. Students come up with ideas, coordinate, and implement. All of the students will be participating in this event on Friday. There are a few other things in the works for Eagles Hope, but details have not been confirmed yet. Three students, Jocelyn Toso, Dallys Chitwood, and Sierra Brubaker, were mainly in charge of coordinating and implementing the donation drive during the cruise.

    All of the students will be following social distancing expectations, Sam noted. The drop off locations will have an entry and an exit to help with social distancing. Drive-up and drop the donation into the bucket. Kusel’s will be a little trickier because of the location, but maintaining the protocol is of utmost importance.

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    Eagles Hope Phase I Housing is starting with practically nothing, shared Executive Director Michelle Widmayer. “The cabinets are bare, cleaning supplies are very limited, no plates, bowls, cups, glasses, utensils, pots, pans, etc…We are basically starting from scratch.”

    Eagles Hope Phase I Housing – Kitchen area

    This is a much-needed resource for the community, Michelle explained. “I have over 75 people on a waiting list.” They can’t open until several items outlined by the inspector have been fixed. Financially, there are huge hurdles to get it operating at 100%, but the main focus is on those items, mostly cosmetic at this point, that will hopefully allow them to open their doors in June.

    Eagles Hope Phase I Housing – Sleeping area

    Another financial obstacle is staffing. Right now, Michelle is the only employee running Eagles Hope. Additional staff is needed so both locations can be operated properly, but that also means being able to divert money from repairs to payroll.

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    A few students in the RHS Leadership class are creating a website where donations can be made online. That hasn’t been completed just yet, but County 10 will let you know when it is. In the meantime, you can drop donations off at any of the locations, listed above and below, Friday night or swing by Eagles Hope, and donate there. #spreadthehope

    h/t RHS Leadership
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