HP Gives a Hoot

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Mission Statement

"HP Gives a Hoot" is a nonprofit fund created by the Borough of Highland Park to contribute to the wellbeing of our children in need. With community donations, we provide free groceries to the Zone 6 Teen Center, scholarships to the Recreation Department's Summer Camp and opportunities to encourage academic, social and community success.

The Need

This program began when Borough employees noticed a group of young children hanging outside Boro Hall with nothing to occupy their time, and no access to healthy lunches. We recognized the need to provide these children with healthy food and activities to help them grow and develop.

Nearly 38% of the students in Highland Park schools are on free or reduced lunch. The Borough feels a strong responsibility to assist these children in their growth and success. Through fundraisers, promotions and publicity, "HP Gives a Hoot" receives donations from residents and organizations. In order to maintain our ability to help our youth, we need to continuously solicit donations from residents.

Highlights

Over 400 lunches served to Highland Park students at the Global Grace Cafe' Reformed Church, 2nd Avenue
20+ Camp Scholarships for 4 weeks at the Recreation Department's Summer Camp
Over 1,100 lunches served at the summer camp
Groceries weekly for over 30 families

Free Groceries

Highland Park Gives a Hoot offers free groceries to Highland Park families in need of support.

No sign-up. No questions asked.

Send your teens to.......

Where: Highland Park Teen Center, 600 Benner Street

When: Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Please check the Zone 6 Teen Center Facebook page for unscheduled closings.

Summer Camp

The Highland Park Department of Recreation offers a variety of summer camp activities including *Pool Visits *Day Trips *Cooking *Arts and Crafts *Sports * Special events *Music *Electives *Science *Theater * and much, much more!

HP Gives a Hoot pays the tuition of a number of free or reduced lunch students selected by lottery. Twenty (20) scholarships are awarded each summer.

Summer Camp Application

Peer-to-Peer School Mentoring

In 2017-18 HP Gives a Hoot and Highland Park schools instituted a Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program teaming juniors and seniors with incoming freshmen through the first year of high school to develop their academic, social, and emotional growth. The transition from middle to high school is a challenging period for most students, and it can be easy for students to feel disconnected from school and lose their focus. Many studies show that the success rate among students who feel connected to their schools is much higher than their counterparts who feel less connected.

PeertoPeerMentorship

How Can I Donate?

Interested in making a donation to help provide lunch for our H.P. Children? checks can be mailed to HP Gives a Hoot, PO Box 1328, Highland Park, NJ 08904. Checks should be made out to "HP Gives a Hoot."

All donations are tax exempt. Questions can be emailed to igaveahoot@gmail.com.

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