Posted by Bruce Brockway on Feb 19, 2019
As part of our efforts to refocus our club vision/mission  at our club meeting on February 19th our speaker was Maureen Linnehan, a case manager working with the Homeless Prevention Council in Orleans.
The Homeless Prevention Council located at 14 Old Tote Road in Orleans is one of three organizations we hope to partner with as we help our partners address homelessness issues.
Maureen, one of four case managers at the Council met with us to discuss some of their community programs.  The Council serves the 8 towns on the lower Cape from Harwich to Provincetown. Their web site link is https://www.hpccapecod.org .
 
Their "Backpack to School" program supplies backpacks loaded with school supplies  to children headed back to school. Generous donors of cash & supplies including many retired teachers have helped make this program possible. The Council partners with local elementary schools to determine the specific supplies needed so that students are equipped for the school year. Students in the 6th grade are given LL Bean backpacks that are designed to last through completion of high school. 
 
Case managers also work with families and individuals to help them connect with resources such as housing programs and funding, fuel assistance, budgeting assistance and other community resources.
 
The Council would like to develop a "Sneakers for School" program to help outfit clients children for the school year. HPC needs a partner to coordinate and lead the program and this is a possible opportunity for our Nauset Rotary Club. Another way we can assist them is by providing cash donations to help clients meet specific needs identified by the case managers. We will be discussing these opportunities further. This was a very informative meeting with good questions and answers from club members.