Program gears up to assist students in need

The HEART program is gearing up for a new school year and stocking up on supplies and making connections with the community with an additional staff member.

Adam Sommers, 22, an AmeriCorps VISTA member, joins Nichole Heyer, Kalispell Public Schools and Evergreen School District homeless education liaison, in operating the program.

Making up the program is the HEART Locker on East Washington Street and HEART Markets. HEART Locker is located with the program’s main office on 514 E. Washington St., Kalispell. Set up like a shop, students can try on and get clothing in addition to hygiene products and school supplies at no charge.

“We’re scrambling to get school supplies,” Heyer said, especially supplies for upper grades.

The markets are located at Linderman, Flathead and Glacier high schools and are stocked with food so students can “grab-and-go” free snacks, fruit, vegetables and other food items.

“Some students are getting food for younger siblings or parents who can’t get to the food bank,” Heyer said.

This is the first year the HEART program has an AmeriCorps VISTA member. Heyer previously was the only person operating the program. Last school year, the HEART Locker served roughly 300 students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Sommers said he will provide assistance in reaching out to donors, coordinating a network of volunteers and putting systems in place so that future staff or VISTA members can step in with a smooth transition.

“We desperately needed help. We’re lucky to have Adam on board. I’ll get to spend more time with kids,” Heyer said.

The additional assistance will also allow Heyer to work toward a social work degree that will help her better serve and advocate for students.

She said there are about 382 kindergarten through 12th-grade students in the district defined as homeless. Homelessness is defined as lacking a fixed, regular or adequate night-time residence, according to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

This represents students who may be “couch surfing” at a friend’s house, living in a hotel, in a car or shelter. It also represents students who may have a fairly stable home life living with a relative or neighbor, but qualify as homeless if the adults are not legal guardians.

“About one third of kids are in stable situations with grandma or aunt, for example,” Heyer said. “One third are living week to week at the Outlaw — for a few days they know where they’ll be, but after that they are not sure what happens next. Another one third it’s day-to-day living in a tent, shelter or car.”

The HEART Locker is open from 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays during the school year.

For more information visit kalispellheartprogram.org, call 406-751-3630 or email heyern@sd5.k12.mt.us.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.